Citizens Flood Social Media With Allegations of Bribery And Abuse

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is under intense public scrutiny after its online campaign to expose rogue officers backfired, igniting a wave of anger and allegations of widespread corruption within the force.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the police urged citizens to report officers involved in misconduct such as bribery, harassment, or failure to produce identification. Hotline numbers were provided for the public to assist in identifying “rogue” or “impersonating” officers.

However, instead of the support the ZRP expected, the campaign unleashed a torrent of outrage, with thousands of citizens using the same platform to accuse officers of corruption and abuse of power.

The comment section quickly turned into a virtual protest. Users shared first-hand experiences of intimidation and extortion, particularly from traffic officers stationed at roadblocks in Harare and other cities.

One user, @Moyochirandu19, wrote: “I love my country, but when police officers harass citizens in broad daylight, something is seriously wrong. Southerton VTS officers refused to identify themselves. Mr President, these rogue officers are tarnishing the uniform.”

Another user, @Kingmon42144465, accused officers of extortion: “Go to Southerton, ZBC, Mupedzanhamo, and Mbare Traffic, it’s a circus. They pretend to impound your car just to demand money.”

Many questioned the practicality of the ZRP’s appeal. @MikelaWacho asked, “How do we report a corrupt officer to the same station they work at? That doesn’t make sense.”

Others described daily encounters with aggressive officers. @Wellyzivuka lamented: “Three roadblocks within two kilometres. Officers hiding behind trees like hunters waiting for prey. We deserve better.”

The frustration extended beyond the capital. In Victoria Falls, @Ephertnerwande alleged that officers were openly collecting bribes from motorists and tourists at the bridge, warning that such conduct was discouraging visitors.

Fear of reprisal was another major concern. “Once they ask for your ID number and address, you become the suspect,” one user noted.

Critics accused the police of hypocrisy, saying they should first deal with corruption within their own ranks before asking the public to report impersonators.

By Thursday, the ZRP had not issued any official response to the public backlash, leaving its credibility further dented as citizens continue to share accounts of misconduct online.