The Zimbabwean government has implemented an immediate ban on police officers using mobile phones while on duty, as outlined in a recent memo.
Officers are now required to surrender their personal devices to supervisors upon arrival at their stations and may only access them during designated breaks.
While the memo does not specify reasons for the policy, many believe it aims to combat police corruption, following recent incidents that have put law enforcement conduct under scrutiny. Just days before, two traffic officers were arrested in Harare after a viral video revealed them accepting bribes from public transport drivers, sparking public outrage. Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi condemned the arrested officers, referring to them as “bad apples” unfit to serve in the force.
The mobile phone policy appears to build on a previous directive issued last month, which police commanders reportedly failed to enforce. The latest memo warns that station heads will be held accountable if their officers are caught with phones on duty, emphasizing that mobile devices are strictly for use during break and lunch times.
This crackdown highlights Zimbabwe’s ongoing struggle with police corruption, often attributed to inadequate salaries and challenging work conditions within the police service.
