ZRP Women Network Drives Rise of Female Leadership in Police

ZRP Women Network Drives Rise of Female Leadership in Police (image source)

GWERU — Deliberate efforts to capacitate women within the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are yielding measurable results, with a growing number of female officers now occupying senior leadership roles that were once rare in the force. The progress was highlighted during the ZRP Women Network Junior Officers Capacity Building Workshop held in Gweru, where the network’s national chairperson, Commissioner Grace Ndou, outlined recent gains and ongoing priorities.

Since the ZRP Women Network was established in 2009, Commissioner Ndou said the organisation has focused on equipping women with leadership skills, confidence and the professional mindset required to perform at the same level as their male counterparts. “To date, we can confidently say that almost 30 percent of officers-in-charge within the organisation are women,” she said, noting that women now serve as station commanders, district commanders and even at the rank of commissioner.

The workshop, run in partnership with the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), targeted officers-in-charge from across the country and covered managerial and leadership topics designed to strengthen decision-making, accountability and service delivery. Commissioner Ndou said the programme also served as a reminder of the duties and responsibilities that come with command, emphasising ethical leadership and community-oriented policing.

(video source)

A key pillar of the network’s work has been addressing barriers that historically discouraged women from seeking leadership roles. Commissioner Ndou pointed to limited access to leadership training and workplace challenges such as sexual harassment. She highlighted the ZRP’s early adoption of a sexual harassment policy in 2010 as a critical step that has helped create a safer environment for women to pursue advancement. “Sexual harassment often discourages women from aspiring to leadership positions, but having a clear policy allows the organisation to address such issues effectively when they arise,” she said.

The ZRP Women Network has also facilitated external secondments and international assignments for female officers, including United Nations deployments, which Commissioner Ndou said broaden professional exposure and build institutional capacity. She acknowledged that while progress has been significant, more work remains to ensure equal representation at all levels.

In a message read on his behalf, Commissioner-General Stephen Mutamba represented at the workshop by Deputy Commissioner-General Human Resources Mind Elliot Ngirandi praised the partnership with NUST and framed the initiative as part of a broader strategy to capacitate all members of the force. “Gender mainstreaming in capacity development ensures inclusivity and equity in organisational growth,” the statement said, urging continued participation in training programmes to sustain gains.

Participants described the workshop as timely and practical, with many officers reporting renewed confidence in leadership roles. Observers say the ZRP’s approach combining policy reform, targeted training and institutional support offers a replicable model for other uniformed services seeking to accelerate gender parity in command positions.