Categories: Stories

More than half the Zimbabweans do not trust the police

Zimbabwe’s police, who are currently under the spotlight after arresting four journalists employed by state-owned newspapers in the past two days, have a lot to do to spruce up their image because less than half the population trusts them.

A survey just released by Afrobarometer which covers 34 African states, said that 48 percent of the people surveyed in Zimbabwe trusted the police. This was way below the continental average of 53 percent and the southern African regional average of 59 percent.

Police were ranked as the most corrupt government agency on the continent, followed by tax officials who were at par with government officials generally, then local government councilors, Members of Parliament, followed by judges and magistrates , and finally  hose from the president’s office.

Zimbabwe has the fourth most corrupt police officers among the countries surveyed and came after Nigeria, Kenya and Sierra Leone.

The survey, released on Monday, showed that police in Zimbabwe have been steadily losing the confidence of the people from 2002/2003 when 42 percent perceived them to be corrupt.

This rose to 62 percent in 2005/2006 before declining to 47 percent in 2008/2009 and was back to 62 percent in 2011/2013.

Police on Monday arrested the editor of the Sunday Mail editor Mabasa Sasa and  two reporters Tinashe Farawo and Brian Chitemba; and yesterday arrested the assistant news editor of The Herald Takunda Maodza.

(88 VIEWS)

Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

Recent Posts

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe expects more foreign currency sellers to join the interbank market

The gazetting into law of the payment of quarterly taxes on a 50-50 basis in…

December 4, 2024

Zimbabwe 2025 citizens’ budget

Zimbabwe has today unveiled a ZiG276.4 billion budget for 2025 during which it expects the…

November 28, 2024

To go or not to go- Mnangagwa in a quandary

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repeatedly stated that he is not going to contest a…

November 25, 2024

ZiG loses steam, falls against US dollar for five consecutive days

The Zimbabwe Gold fell against the United States dollar for five consecutive days from Monday…

November 22, 2024

Indian think tank says Starlink is a wolf in sheep’s clothing

An Indian think tank has described Starlink, a satellite internet service provider which recently entered…

November 18, 2024

ZiG firms against US dollar for 10 days running but people still do not have confidence in the currency

Zimbabwe’s new currency, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), firmed against the United States dollars for 10…

November 16, 2024