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A recent incident underscores the magnitude of lack of professionalism and corruption among police officers in Zimbabwe. There is an urgent need for reforms

On the 27 March 2014 at around 6:30p.m and at the first police checkpoint from Bulawayo to Plumtree, visibly drunk police officers stopped a foreign registered bus and demanded bribes. When their request was turned down, they demanded that they search all passengers, which was done, and further they demanded passports of all Zimbabweans who were travelling to either Botswana or Namibia. It is not clear on whether or not the police have the right to demand passports from Zimbabweans in their country.

The behaviour of the police was calculated to punish the driver and all passengers for refusing to pay bribes. This incident is of great concern to the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa and calls on the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to lay traps and these traps will surely yield results. It is also important for the police leaders responsible for the checkpoints between Bulawayo and Plumtree to secretly monitor the behaviour of their police officers.

For more information contact:

Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa
2939 Lomagundi Road,
Westgate
Harare,
Zimbabwe