The Zimbabwe Republic Police has been warned to be professional as they have wings unclipped by the army after the official end of Operation Restore Legacy.
Members of the police force have been urged to only stick to their service chatter and their recently announced 11-point plan as the Army officially announces the end of its operation which ushered in the country’s new President Emmerson Mnangagwa into office.
Officially announcing the army’s withdrawal from the streets today, Zimbabwe National Army Commander, Philip Valerio Sibanda Lieutenant General Sibanda said Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is expected to fully take over their responsibility and perform according to their constitutional mandate and Client Service Charter.
“Today as the Defense Forces handover all normal day to day policing duties to the Zimbabwe Republic Police,
“Members of the public are urged to respect, support and cooperate with the police as they execute their constitutional mandate to allow for a smooth transition,
“Normalcy has now returned to the country. The operation was historic and will be remembered by generations to come,” said Zimbabwe National Army Commander, Philip Valerio Sibanda Lieutenant General Sibanda.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa took over as First Secretary of the ruling party Zanu PF and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces following the forced resignation of the country’s long-serving President Robert Mugabe.
Contrary to fears that the army might prolong their stay on the streets and take advantage of its control on state security to intimidate Zanu PF opponents ahead of 2018 Elections, the army called for peaceful campaigning and voting process.
“It is our wish that voting and campaigning takes place in peace…Let us now all work for a peaceful and prosperous Zimbabwe.”
Meanwhile, ordinary citizens and political activists expressed concern over the resumption of police duties allaying fears that the ZRP officers which have developed sour relations with the public over its alleged obsession with institutionalized corrupt activities might revert back to their old antics.
Naison kanyemba who resides in Harare said although he welcomes the restoration of police authority and the return of the Army to their barracks, he doubts if ZRP has repented of their menace and corruption tendencies.
“I think it is a welcome move to have the soldiers out of the streets, the return of the police in the streets sounds like the return of chaos and resurfacing of corruption,
“We hope the police will this time prove their worth to eradicate the negative perspective people now have in the police force”, he said.
Political activist and human rights defender Linda Masarira said she looks forward to a reformed police urging fellow citizens to measure their competency through an “11-point work plan launched concurrently during the Operation Restore Legacy period.
“As the army hand over control over to ZRP which we have known as a corrupt entity, a reformed ZRP is very welcome,
“I will hold ZRP accountable to their 11point plan. Make sure you have your copy and keep it in your car”, she said.
Without taking away its success, the Army admitted that the operation which started on the 13th of November had had wider implications on the political, economic and social activities of the people.
While some of the individuals have been arrested during the operation that many still believe was a typical coup in disguise (smart Coup) and others managed to skip out of the country the army says the objectives of the operation have to a large extent been achieved.
According to a statement issued by the military, a new political dispensation has been ushered-in to take Zimbabwe into its rightful place with SADC and the world at large.
The army had said Operation Restore Legacy was launched with the objective to ” remove criminals surrounding the former President Robert Mugabe and up to date som senior Zanu Pf Officials who belonged to the Generation 40 (G40) cabal have been arrested while are still on the run.
