Background of the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation [SARPCCO] Women Network
Zimbabwe is a member of the SARPCCO. At the 12th SARPCCO Annual General Meeting that was held in Lusaka, Zambia from 28 July to 3 August 2007, member states agreed to further strengthen their regional vision by enhancing the issues of women empowerment in Police Forces/Services in the region, giving birth to the SARPCCO Women’s Network. This was also in line with the demands of the United nations Security Council Resolution 1325(2000) and Southern African Development Community protocols on gender and women empowerment. The resolution further made it obligatory for member countries to establish their respective police service/force Women Network. This gave birth to the ZRP Women Network in 2009. Other SARPCCO member states include:
- Angola
- Botswana
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Lesotho
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Seychelles
- South Africa
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- Zambia, and
- Zimbabwe
All the above mentioned countries have since launched their chapters.
ZRP Women Network
ZRP Women Network is an entity within the Zimbabwe Republic Police which seeks to empower and uplift female police officers, thereby enhancing quality service to the nation. It was established as a result of 07/RES/13 of the 12th SARPCCO Annual General Meeting that was held in Lusaka, Zambia. ZRP Women Network was officially launched by the then Commissioner General of Police Cde A Chihuri on 2 April 2009. Consequently, provincial, district and station Women Network Chapters were also launched during the same year.
Vision of the ZRP Women Network
To have the most empowered and uplifted women police officers in the world by the year 2020.
Mission Statement of the ZRP Women Network
Its mission is to continuously strive for the total empowerment and upliftment of women police officers thereby enhancing self sustenance, assertiveness and high quality service delivery to the nation.
Values and Ethics
- Accountability
- Professionalism
- Teamwork
- Loyalty
- Integrity
- Transparency
- Compassion
- Exemplary leadership
Aim of the ZRP Women Network
The ZRP Women Network aims to empower and uplift female police officers thereby enhancing quality service delivery to the public.
Source Documents
The ZRP Women Network is guided by the following source documents:-
- ZRP Women Network Strategic Plan [Vision 2017]
- ZRP Women Network Constitution
- ZRP Women Network Policy Framework
- Yearly Action Plan
In a bid to fulfil its purpose, the ZRP Women Network identified six [6] Key Result Areas which acted as benchmark for ensuring that female police officers are empowered in all aspects of life were established.
Key Result Areas
The following Key Result Areas were done away with at the 2016 ZRP Women Network Annual General Meeting.
- Poverty Alleviation
- Resource Mobilisation
- Social Responsibilities
And the following Three [3] Key Result Areas that are job related were maintained:
- Training and Development
- Equal Job Opportunities
- Sport and Recreation
Activities under the Three [3] Key Result Areas namely:-
- Training and Development.
- Equal Job Opportunities.
- Sport and Recreation.
Training and Development
Goal
To have an increase in the number of female police officers/members participating in training and development programmes, either internally or externally
Objectives
By the end of 2020 the ZRP Women Network seeks:
- to achieve a ratio of three males : 1 female for officers and members seconded for training and development programmes ,
- to increase the number of female officers and members seconded for driving courses at Harare and Bulawayo Driving Schools by 10% annually, and
- to conduct at least two [2] mentorship programmes per province annually.
Equal Job Opportunities
Goal
To increase the number of female police officers/members in decision making positions, specialized units and operational deployments.
Objectives
- To increase the number of female police officers occupying decision making positions by at least 10%.
- to deploy at least 30% of female police members in operational duties on a yearly basis,
- to have female police officers/members forming 30% of each deployment in peace keeping missions and
- to put in place a two-year job-rotational mechanism at every police institution.
Achievements
Officers/members continue to take part in operational activities and joining specialized Units alongside their male counterparts. This has seen an improvement of their participation in the following:
- United Nations Peace Keeping duties,
- Specialised Units, and
- Various operations initiated by female officers/members at provincial level.
United Nations Peacekeeping Duties
Zimbabwe Republic Police female police officers/members continued to fly the Zimbabwean flag high in the international arena under the banner of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. During the year 2016, twenty seven [27] members were deployed in Liberia, Abyei and South Sudan.
Specialised Units
It is encouraging to note that female police officers/members are now keen to join specialised units in the organisation. During the year 2016, 19 females joined the specialised units making a total of 115.
Sports and Recreation
Goal
To increase the number of female police members participating in sport.
Objectives
- To have at least 30% of female police officers/members participating in sport.
- To identify and nurture talent in every sporting discipline.
Achievements
During the year 2016, the ZRP Women Network officers and members participated in different sporting activities in the following tournaments:
- The Commissioner General of Police’s Sports Gala.
- President’s Medal Shoot.
- CGP’s 21 km Road Race.
- Westgate Half Marathon Harare,
- P PC Marathon and Half Marathon.
- Track and Field Championships.
- The Netball Super League.
- Volleyball Association League.
- and Soccer League.
Commissioner General of Police’s Sports Gala
The 2016 Commissioner General of Police Sports Gala was held from 14-20 August 2016 at Morris Depot, Harare. One thousand five hundred and eight [1 508] female officers/members participated in various sporting disciplines. Sporting disciplines include:
- Soccer,
- Volley ball,
- Tennis
- Athletics,
- Swimming and
- Netball.
The ZRP Women Network also contributes towards nation building through various social responsibility activities such as:
- donating to the underprivileged members of the society housed in orphanage homes, old people’s homes, and individuals such as flood victims of Torkwe-Mukosi and Tsholotsho flood victims.
- donating to the physically challenged individuals, members and their dependents. For example in 2011, walking aids like wheelchairs, artificial limbs worth USD 24 000 were donated to members and their dependants.
- paying school fees for the less privileged members of the society,
- donating trees for re-planting in commemoration of the National Tree Planting Day to ZRP Boarding School, Bulawayo Province, Matabeleland South and Mashonaland West Provinces.
- conducting career guidance sessions in schools, colleges, universities, communities in a bid to lure more females to join the ZRP.
- participating at the commemoration of the national and international events with a bias towards women and children. E.g. :-
- The International Women’s Day
- World AIDS Day
- International Day of Eradication of Poverty and hunger
- Day of the African Child
- 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.