Published on 08/11/2024
The Zimbabwean government has imposed a strict ban on police officers using mobile phones while on duty, per a memo sent to all stations.
Under this new directive, officers must surrender their personal phones to supervisors at the start of each shift, only retrieving them during scheduled breaks. The move aims to enhance focus and discipline on the job, reducing distractions and ensuring public safety. By limiting phone access, authorities hope to improve response times and curb issues arising from personal phone use during work hours.
This development followed the recent arrest of two traffic officers in Harare, who were caught on video allegedly taking bribes from public transport drivers—a clip that went viral on social media, sparking public outrage.
Police spokesperson, Paul Nyathi, condemned the officers involved, referring to them as “bad apples” who discredit the force.
The new mobile phone policy underscored an earlier, similar directive issued to all police stations last month, which reportedly had not been strictly enforced.
The memo stated, “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.”
Commanders have been instructed to enforce the ban strictly, with warnings that officers-in-charge would face consequences if subordinates were found violating the rule.
The police force in Zimbabwe is perceived by many as one of the country’s most corrupt institutions, often attributed to low wages and challenging working conditions.
