Bitter pill of truth …President Samia lays bare police’s systemic rot

PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan on Tuesday decried misuse of funds within the Tanzania Police Force (TPF) echelons, directing the force to urgently clean their house.

The president said it was high time to purge the systemic rot within the police which had stemmed from the perceived bad blood and poor relationship between the force and the Home Affairs Ministry.

The ill feeling between the two, according to the President, was giving rise to dishonest cops who have gone as far as swindling the force’s precious resources, particularly fuel available at TPF depots around the country.

Ms Samia, who is also the Commander-In-Chief of Armed Forces, revealed that unscrupulous officers were siphoning the fuel for personal gains.

President Samia said she was aware of some cops owning Public Service Vehicles (PSVs), filling them up fraudulently at the depots when the resource could have been used for the intended purposes.

“This is unacceptable, it is my belief that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) will urgently address the issue,” directed the president, while opening the working session for senior police officers at Tanzania Police School (TPS) in Moshi District, Kilimanjaro Region.

Likewise, the president tasked the Minister for Home Affairs, Eng Hamad Yussuf Masauni and IGP Wambura to mend fences with another and work in unison.

“It is sad to note that some police chiefs have a tendency of overlapping the ministry concerned when discharging their duties, no one should undermine the other,” she counseled.

The president equally poked holes on the performance of the Police Force, saying it left out much to be desired.

Ms Samia was categorical that officers with questionable credibility and those who bring the force into disrepute will be not tolerated with.

According to the President, not every Tom, Dick, and Harry will be allowed into the force, maintaining that only those who fit in will make the cut.

“The performance of the force has largely been affected by lack of proper training on our officers and this has seen some of them misbehaving and going astray and blatantly violating their codes of ethics,” she observed.

“Henceforth, we shall strive to sieve and filter those with questionable characters and let in only those who qualify and adhere to the ethics.”

She further challenged those aspiring to become police officers not to view the profession as a last resort.

The president revealed that the government will in this financial year allocate 11bn/- for training of personnel at the force.

Commenting on the issue of uniforms donned by the officers, Ms Samia tasked TPF to come up with transparent ways of procuring uniforms other than ones shrouded in controversies.

“Towards the end of 2020, the force was on record, complaining about the shortage of uniforms, this should no longer be the case,” Commander-In-Chief of Armed Forces.

In the same vein, the president urged the officers to fully embrace and incorporate the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in their daily operations.

President Samia, had in a special way, delved on merry-go-round and savings groups managed by the officers, faulting them for lack of transparency.

Ms Samia alleged that some officers were being fleeced off their savings while those who lost their loved ones were missing out on their condolence funds.

“There should be utmost transparency in managing these groups and they should be run in an orderly manner,” she directed.

In his remarks, Home Affairs Minister Eng Masauni assured the president that his office will ensure that only patriotic and honest officers are recruited into the force.

 

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