Zimbabwe

The police service in Zimbabwe is a national body, which falls under the control of the Ministry of the Home Affairs and lead by the Commissioner General. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) strives to provide the following:

• effective and efficient service;
• professionalism in dealing with the public;
• accountability and transparency in operations;
• diligence and courtesy in the discharge of duties; and
• executes its duties with honesty and integrity.

Further, the mission of the ZRP is to:

• Preserve internal security and maintain law and order;
• Protect life and property;
• Preserve peace;
• Prevent and detect crime;
• Apprehend offenders;
• Suppress civil commotion and disturbance.

Oversight of the police is conducted both internally and externally, with internal mechanisms involving a complaints desk in Harare to deal with allegations involving police misconduct, as well as a complaints log book, which is provided at each police station. However, according to a report conducted by Human Rights Watch, these mechanisms for internal control and oversight are wholly ineffective due to lack of resources, personnel and funding.

The Constitution provides for the establishment of a Police Service Commission to deal with complains made by members of the police, but not private citizens; accordingly, the Police Service Commission cannot be used by individuals who have complaints against the police.

Despite weak mechanisms for external oversight, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission is a potential avenue of external oversight given that is responsible for conducting investigations of human rights abuses and any maladministration of justice, including incidents involving the police.