POLICE TRAIN 180 SPECIAL OFFICERS FOR ELECTIONS

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mary Nzuki

The police has trained 180 officers in Public Order Command to strengthen security for the general election in October. 

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mary Nzuki said the training provides graduates with the knowledge on how to improve the delivery of police services to citizens instead of using force as they normally do.

 

She added that the training was also aimed at equipping and nurturing frontline officers with leadership skills to become effective leaders in the field on the issue of public disorder incidents, notably during various political and non-political activities during elections.

 

“It is also my hope that the training has empowered you to be more qualified and successful police leaders. Let me emphasise that as participants in this training programme, you have to adhere to police ethical values as stipulated in the Police General Orders and share the same with your colleagues and subordinates,” she said.

 

A one week training that was sponsored by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was conducted in two batches in which the first batch consisting of 90 participants started July 20 and the last one began on July 27.

 

It was further said that Tanzania Police under sponsorship of UNDP had invited eight senior police officers from the UK Policing Academy who have been training local officers.

 

During the graduation ceremony held in Dar es Salaam yesterday, UNDP Deputy Country Director, Titus Osundina commented that the training in Public Order Management is part of a wider programme of cooperation between the police and UNDP in preparation for the 2015 elections process. 

 

He added that UNDP has been also working with the police to upgrade the radio communications system nationally, training in human rights gender, and helping the police to meet and dialogue with the National and Zanzibar Electoral Commissions (NEC and ZEC), political parties, and public organisations to build better understanding and cooperation. 

 

“Elections themselves can be vulnerable to a range of security threats against participants, infrastructure, information and materials such as international terrorism, organised crime, civil unrest, and others,” he said.

 

In general, he added, an election is a period of heightened tensions which must be managed well to achieve good and lasting results in relation to peace, human security and development. 

 

“That goes to the heart of the purpose of the training,” he went on, and added that UNDP has a lot of experience supporting elections around the world, saying that it therefore wanted to work with Tanzania police because it recognised from its experience that Tanzania has a central role to play in keeping the environment for the elections peaceful.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN