The Zimbabwean government has banned police officers from using mobile phones while on duty.
This move follows public outcry after two traffic officers in Harare were filmed accepting bribes from public transport drivers, leading to their arrest.
The directive, issued in a memo to all police stations, requires officers to hand over their mobile phones to their supervisors when they arrive for work.
Although the memo does not directly state why this policy was introduced, it is widely seen as an effort to address concerns about police corruption.
A police spokesperson, Paul Nyathi, condemned the actions of the arrested officers, calling them “bad apples who do not deserve to be serving in the police service.”
The policy enforces a previous rule introduced last month, which aimed to limit phone usage during duty hours.
The memo states, “No member is allowed to be in possession of a cell phone whilst on duty. Cell phones should only be used during break and lunch times.”
Station commanders have been directed to enforce this rule strictly. The memo adds, “Once a member is found with a cell phone whilst on duty, the officer in-charge of the said member will be put to task.”
Zimbabwe’s police force has faced criticism over issues of corruption, often attributed to low salaries and difficult working conditions. Authorities hope this new policy will help restore public trust in the police force by improving accountability.
