SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Republic Police this week began transferring cops, in a move which will affect about 2,000 officers countrywide.
Two weeks ago police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri approved the transfer of police officers as a way to minimize corruption within the force. An internal communiqué said the move would see 1,000 junior and senior officers from the minerals unit moved from urban to remote areas and vice versa around the country.
But reports this week said the move will also affect police in the traffic section, pushing the number of transfers to around 2,000. The shake-up follows allegations of extensive corruption within the force, with some officers said to be working hand in glove with criminals while some were forcing motorists to pay them bribes.
Observers have been quick to criticize the move to transfer the cops, saying the police are supposed to be the leaders in the rule of law and any allegations of corruption should be investigated, and the perpetrators brought before the courts. Letting a corrupt police officer keep his job while transferring him, just means the corruption will continue.