ZRP Acts After Viral Budiriro Altercation; Details of Sanctions Withheld

The ZRP has disciplined three officers involved in a viral Budiriro traffic altercation but withheld details of the sanctions (image source)

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) says it has moved swiftly to discipline three officers filmed in a widely circulated video that captured a tense altercation between motorists and police during a traffic enforcement operation in Budiriro, Harare. The force confirmed the measures were imposed with immediate effect but did not disclose the exact nature of the sanctions.

The footage, which trended across social media and prompted an outcry from road users and civic groups, shows a heated confrontation at a routine roadblock. The clip sparked fresh debate about police conduct, the proportionality of enforcement tactics, and how officers interact with members of the public during stops.

In a Thursday statement, the ZRP stressed that it does not condone misconduct by its members and reiterated a commitment to upholding discipline. “The Police urges motorists to be law-abiding citizens and avoid using obscene or vulgar words to police officers, especially women on effecting arrests,” the statement read, while also appealing for restraint from officers and the public during law-enforcement encounters.

Civil-society organisations and rights advocates welcomed the disciplinary action but said transparency is essential to rebuild public trust. “Swift internal measures are a positive step, but the public needs clarity on what happened and how the force will prevent similar incidents,” said a local campaigner for police accountability.

The incident arrives amid broader scrutiny of the ZRP’s roadblock operations and calls for reforms to strengthen professionalism, improve public-relations training, and ensure accountability. Observers noted that without clearer disclosure of disciplinary outcomes, citizens may view internal processes as opaque and insufficient to deter future misconduct.

(video source)

Police officials said they are reinforcing internal disciplinary systems and training protocols to ensure officers carry out duties with integrity and respect for human rights. Legal experts pointed out that disciplinary and criminal processes can run in parallel — administrative sanctions within the force do not preclude external investigations or criminal charges where warranted.

Motorist groups urged both drivers and officers to exercise calm at checkpoints and pushed for public-education campaigns explaining motorists’ rights and police procedures. The ZRP said it will continue to monitor the situation and encouraged members of the public to report misconduct through official channels.

As the video continues to circulate, the debate it has reignited underscores a fragile trust between law enforcement and communities on the roads. Authorities face the task of balancing enforcement with transparency and public accountability if confidence in policing is to be restored.