Staff Reporter

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has introduced body-worn cameras for police officers as part of wider reforms aimed at promoting transparency and restoring public confidence in law enforcement, a senior official has said.

Officer Commanding Police Midlands Province, Commissioner Patson Nyabadza, made the announcement at Gokwe Centre on Tuesday during the provincial launch of the 2026 Police Client Service Charter reinvigoration programme.

Commissioner Nyabadza said the introduction of body cameras was a decisive step towards strengthening accountability and professional conduct among officers while also protecting honest members of the force.

“Accordingly, let me inform you that we introduced body-worn cameras for police officers. This is a decisive action that brings integrity out of the shadows, encouraging open, accountable and professional policing,” he said.

“The gadgets serve as both a deterrent to misconduct and a shield for honest officers,” he said.

The move comes at a time when the police acknowledged growing concerns from the public regarding the quality of service and conduct of some officers. Nyabadza admitted that trust between the police and the community had, in some instances, deteriorated.

“We are not blind to murmurs of discontent and disapproval. Stories are heard in the marketplaces and in newspapers, and the yearning for enhanced police service is being felt,” he said.

He said the body camera initiative was part of broader reforms contained in the Police Client Service Charter, which outlines minimum standards citizens should expect when interacting with the police, including professionalism, courtesy and efficiency.

Under the charter, police officers are expected to respond promptly to reports of crime, provide reference numbers for reported cases and ensure members of the public are able to follow up on investigations.

Nyabadza also revealed that police officers deployed in uniform will soon be required to wear name tags to make them easily identifiable to members of the public.

“To the people of Midlands, hold your Police Service accountable. Any untoward behaviour by a police officer must be promptly reported to authorities,” he said.