By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Zimbabwean authorities have placed a ban “with immediate effect” on the use of mobile phones among police officers while on duty.
They are only allowed to use their official walkie-talkies while performing their official responsibilities.
The ban is contained in a memo ordering police officers to hand over their personal communication gadgets while on duty.
According to the memo, officers on duty are required to submit their mobile phones to their supervisors upon arrival at their respective stations and only use them during their break time.
No reason was given for the policy in the memo.
It may however not be unconnected with efforts to tackle corruption among officers of the police.
It comes a few days after two traffic enforcement officers were arrested in the capital, Harare, after a viral social media video exposed them taking bribes from a driver of public transport vehicle.
Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi described the two detained officers as “bad apples who do not deserve to be serving in the police service”.
The new mobile policy seeks to reinforce what appears to have been a previous order addressed to all stations late last month.
It said “despite numerous instructions given forbidding use of cell phones whilst on duty by members of the police service, commanders are not enforcing this”.
“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,” reads the circular.
“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,” the memo adds.
Station commanders are to ensure strict compliance, failure for which they will be put to task.
Police are perceived to be among the most corrupt institutions in Zimbabwe, arising from a poor salary structure.
The government’s move to restrict mobile phone use is aimed at restoring discipline and reducing opportunities for misconduct and inappropriate behaviour of officers during working hours.
