ZRP Assistant commissioner applauds MISA for engaging with the police
By Memory Mudzani
Zimbabwe Republic Police National Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyati showed gratitude to what was done by MISA Zimbabwe through engagements they have been doing with the police which he said it set a bench mark for other countries in the region during a workshop MISA recently held in Kwekwe.
“I would like to thank MISA Zimbabwe, they have set a bench mark for other countries in the region through engagements they have been doing with the police and the media, when MISA started this initiative people were very skeptic about this, people were not sure about the direction which MISA wanted us to travel even from the police’s side we were not sure, but now to be quiet honest we are seeing the fruits of these engagement, “Said Nyati
Assistance Commissioner Nyati said they were told by Malvern Mkudu from MISA programs officer and advocacy that they have set the bench mark such that other countries in the region they now want to replicate what happened between MISA initiative and the Zimbabwe Republic Police but particularly from the police side he said they saw this after the just ended harmonized elections because they moved around the country and they met commander at district level, provincial and national level and the fruits are clear for everyone to observe there is no acrimony between the police and the media, the environment is now conducive.
Nyati said that both the police and the media when performing their duties they must recognize their diversity aiming to serve the people of Zimbabwe and that should be the norm.
Assistance Commissioner Nyati further said that he is happy police officers and the media fraternity are now acknowledging the fact that what was done during the just ended harmonized elections should be a bench mark, and should be an example to other players to say yes we have got our own parameters in terms of the way we work and the way we perform our Various constructional responsibilities but if we respect each other and give other space definitely our relations will be smooth
Kwekwe chapter MISA Zimbabwe chairperson Polite Ndhlovu also acknowledge what was said by Assistance Commissioner when he said as Kwekwe journalists we had a good relationship with the police and they were no journalist who were harassed and he said journalist in Kwekwe has a good relationship with the police which is healthy regarding our reporting and a coverage .
MISA body of trustees Cris Chinaka said they are grateful that they are back in kwekwe at the start of another reflecting meeting between the media and police to discuss professional issues, issues of safety and much more to map how they can strengthen the relations between as professionals so that they will be able to do their work as effectively as possible.
Chinaka further said that this gathering was a follow up to the earlier gathering where they had permission from national police commander to go around the country to discuss environment space they are working and how they can improve those working environment.
“As part of these engagement one thing we made, which was that in order to ensure that our relation remain sound and solid we must engage in continuous dialogue and communication with each other, from our last engagement we made a commitment where we were urging that the media and the police at a local level through the officer commanding the district start engaging around environmental issues specifically looking at how we cover election as peaceful as we could,” said Chinaka
