Former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi has expressed concern over the Government’s move to grant municipal police officers powers to arrest those who violate by-laws and to investigate and prosecute such offences in their jurisdictions.
The Municipal Police and Courts Bill, which gives municipal police officers powers to arrest people when enforcing by-laws, was presented by the chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi. Cabinet approved the Bill on Tuesday 28 July.
Mzembi argued that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) should retain its arresting powers and discharge them efficiently, rather than subcontracting them to municipal councils.
He warned that authorising municipal police to arrest offenders will only increase the harassment of ordinary citizens, including vendors, motorists and street children, among others.
“The [ZRP] should retain its arresting powers and discharge these efficiently; subcontracting them to Municipal Councils will just increase the harassment of ordinary offenders, vendors, motorists, street kids etc,” he said.
“Emphasis should be on making the Economy work and engaging potential offenders in productive streams of the Economy. Making the Economy inclusive and productive.”
“There is hell already with Parking Attendants; if you are a VVIP you may not know it as you prescribe new laws; I can’t imagine those folks as an extension of arresting powers.”
However, Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart disagreed with Mzembi, saying that while he too is opposed to the harassment of innocent residents, municipalities desperately need to be able to enforce their own by-laws, which is not happening at present.
He said part of respecting the rule of law is ensuring that innocent people are not harassed, and it is therefore important that any new law includes provisions that deter municipal police from exceeding or abusing their authority.
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