Yesterday the Harare Mayor His Worship Hebert Gomba conferred graduating certificates to 741 municipal officers at a pass out parade held at Magamba Hockey Stadium near City Sports Stadium.
Speaking at the occasion where he was Guest of Honour, Mayor Gomba said the city council had an obligation to uphold local laws by moulding municipal officers who enable a free and safe environment that ensures investor confidence both locally and abroad.
“I feel humbled and honoured to officiate this special graduating ceremony of public safety officers, a testimony that the council continues to uphold its by-laws. It is pleasing to say that the City Council continues to cultivate the enabling environment and investor friendly atmosphere that ensures Harare remains a priority destination for all progressive, peace loving citizens of our country regardless of one’s colour and creed,” he said.
The Mayor urged the new officers who underwent the intensive five months operational training programme to uphold professionalism diligently upon carrying out duties by shunning out elements of corruption.
“I am confidant these graduates have been exposed to a unique training programme with an in depth focus on crime preventing, traffic, investigative and drills.”
“I urge all graduates to desist from corrupt activities like collecting vendors’ wares for your own use and I know of a senior municipal officer who is always drunk whenever he reports to work but let me say that we are aware of such unacceptable activities,” he reiterated.
This year’s parade recorded 741 graduatess with 430 males and 311 females.
The Mayor also hailed women for recording a significant number saying the council had a mandate to uphold the national constitution which entails gender parity.
“The constitution of Zimbabwe under Section 17 subsection 1a states that the state must promote full participation of women therefore it is our responsibility to respect these polices in our council laws. I stand guided by the informative words of UN former Secretary General and I quote, ‘There is no tool for development greater than empowerment of a woman.”
Speaking at the same occasion Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango echoed the same sentiments and challenged the new municipal staff to mitigate high levels of crime rate committed in municipal and traffic controls.
“To the new members of the municipal police you will be deployed to different posts to carry out other duties to enforce council by laws through effective enforcements at traffic congestion areas and illegal vending that had burdened our city.”