HARARE – Police officers will be asked to explain how they bought vehicles in a new corruption clampdown ordered by police chiefs.
Zimbabwe has some of the worst paid police officers in the world, but the police top brass has expressed concern at the lavish lifestyle some of the officers are living.
An internal police memo to all police stations, seen by ZimLive, instructs station commanders to list down all vehicles owned by officers under their command.
The January 6 memo, titled ‘Information on vehicles owned by officers/members’, says: “Dispols (police district commanders) are required to compile and submit a list of officers and members under their command who purchased and own personal vehicles. Consider period 01/01/2019 to date. The information must be at this office by 21/01/2020. Treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves.”
An accompanying format to be used in providing the information will identify the officers by name and rank, the vehicle type, registration number, the vehicle’s value, date purchased and details about the seller must also be provided.
Police chiefs are concerned that poorly-paid officers are now spending working hours running private enterprises, or engaging in illegal activities including gold panning to supplement their meagre incomes.
Police officers have long been rumoured to own most of the pirate taxis operating in major cities, with police officers showing little appetite to curb their activities.
