Africa-Press – Tanzania. PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has warned against gross misconduct by some unscrupulous police officers, calling for immediate action to restore public confidence in the police.
President Samia mentioned some of the misconducts as threats, harassment while arresting people, wrongful detainment, and corruption allegations.
The Head of State issued the warning at the graduation ceremony Gazetted Officer Course No 1 held at the Police Academy in Kurasini-Dar es Salaam, on Sunday, directing the Inspector General of Police, Simon Sirro to rectify the situation.
She revealed that there is a tendency whereby the police deliberately decide to ignore their standard operating procedures by engaging in misconduct under the cover of their hats.
The president said the police force was being accused of engaging in criminal and unethical acts contrary to the codes of conduct and oath of their office, something which was tarnishing the force’s good image.
President Samia gave testimony of personal experience with police rudeness, including a time when a police officer forced her to drive almost 15 kilometers back to a police station because one of the lights in the vehicle, she was driving was not functional.
“These are the few issues that tarnish the image and reduce people’s confidence in the force…IGP go and supervise your officers and make the necessary changes.
“The issue of enhancing discipline in the force should be emphasized.
Go and take action to a few who don’t want to change…adhere to your professional codes of ethics by enforcing integrity, laws, and guidelines,” said President Samia.
She maintained that the IGP should act impartially by dealing with all those who go contrary with their work ethics to restore discipline in the force.
President Samia was hesitant whether officers engaging in the ill acts were ethically mature citing factors like lack of respect and negligence by some of the officers.
“You may find a police officer on duty asleep; you take the hat and hide it and the person is still dozing…I have witnessed this myself and reported the officer to his supervisor.”
“There is an incident where a police officer in uniform promotes the use of illicit brew… you can imagine the audacity of this officer. I wonder, if necessary, action has been taken against him?” she inquired, adding that some of the officers engage in taking people’s properties.
On the other hand, the president applauded the over 700 officers who successfully completed their training, noting that over 75 per cent were learned individuals with doctorates.
She urged them to use the training they have acquired to demonstrate discipline, professionalism, and patriotism for the great benefit of the nation.
“The only time education is meaningful is when your ability and work match the level of education you have acquired,” stated President Samia.
Earlier, the Commandant of the Dar es Salaam Police Academy, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) Lazaro Mambosasa, noted that out of the 756 police officers bearing the rank of Inspector who were recruited for the course 748 officers comprising of 660 males and 96 females have graduated.
He pointed out that the officers who took part in the trainng ranked from PhD holders, master degree, bachelor degree, diploma and a few Form Six, Form Four and Standard Seven leavers.
On his part, the Minister for Home Affairs, Mr George Simbachawene, extended recognition to President Samia for carrying out promotions for over 24,000 police officers across the country.
Mr Simbachawene said the move has helped to raise the morale among the police officers to carry out their duties more professionally and dili- gently.
“We are committed to working hard to maintain peace and security in the country…we pledge to tackle all concerns as per the given laws and guidelines of the country,” said the minister.
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