MARTIN MAWAYA
GWERU-In a significant shift within the traditionally male dominated police force, women now account for nearly 30% of officers-in-charge of police stations, according to Grace Ndou, the national chairperson of the ZRP Women’s Network.
Ndou, who is also the ZRP’s Chief staff officer for monitoring and evaluation, attributed the progress to the establishment of the Women’s Network, which was launched locally in 2009.
“Before the inception of the Women’s Network, it was very rare to see women occupying leadership and decision-making positions,” Ndou said at a recent Junior Officer Capacity Building Workshop held in Gweru.
“Today, we are seeing female officers in charge of stations, commanding districts and even holding the rank of commissioner.”
She said the rise in the number of female police commissioners reflected a deliberate government effort to empower women officers through leadership training and mentorship programmes.
Women officers are also being seconded to demanding external assignments, including United Nations peacekeeping missions, a move Ndou said showed growing confidence in their capabilities.
Access to education and professional training has also improved, with more women enrolling at universities and colleges, and some attaining master’s degrees and doctorates.
“We now see women investigating complex cases, taking up difficult assignments and competing at the same level as their male counterparts,” Ndou said.
“They are taking control of their lives, engaging their spouses and pursuing further education and professional growth.”
However, she acknowledged that balancing work, family and training remained a challenge for many women officers, although attitudes were gradually changing.
The workshop brought together officers-in-charge of police stations from all 10 operational provinces.
Organised in partnership with the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), it aimed to strengthen leadership, management and service delivery skills.
Ndou said the training sought to remind officers of their duties and responsibilities, improve service delivery to the public, and provide a platform to share experiences and adopt best practices as the police seek to boost professionalism and public confidence.
