gender . Female police constitute 33 % ( compared to 53 % female population in the country ), whereas the male police constitute 77 % ( compared to 47 % male population ). For gender justice to occur , it is expected that the number of the female police should be proportional to the corresponding number of female population in the country . If male police officers , who have been raised under the patriarchal customs , continue dominating representation , SGBV crimes might not be effectively investigated and prosecuted . Those men therefore will fail to properly investigate crimes against women by men , even if those crimes are reported to the police in the first place . For example , research evidence shows that in a situation where females perceive patriarchal culture as a problem and where the number of male police in stations outnumbers female counterparts , some female victims are not comfortable to report harassment to male police officers . Evidence continues to show high probability of male police officers taking female harassment and child marriages for granted based on their patriarchal upbringing that marginalises women in the community .
2 . There is no action that does not have unintended consequences , no matter how well intentioned the ZRP WN has been . There is a need to carry out research on how patriarchal men are adjusting or adapting to new forms of gender justice in circumstances where police interventions are disrupting old gender hierarchies and social structures . Could there be any new gender norms created after intervention ? If so , how are they any better from traditional ones ? How are the male privileges negotiated and contested after operations ? How are men managing without traditional powers ? Therefore , there is a compelling need to assess the changes in child marriages , patrilocal residence distribution , and patrilineal inheritance patterns to establish how patriarchy is complying with new forms of gender justice . There is also need to conduct research on whether or not the social change is bringing economic benefit to women , and why some patriarchal communities could be resisting change while others are shifting .
3 . Although the ZRP WN gives us evidence of how state institutions can re-skill themselves and raise resources required to tackle SGBV , there are always some limits placed by economic meltdown . This compels regional and international communities to provide more support to the WN . This might include capacity building to deal with structural and financial factors and providing education which is commensurate to the ever-changing policing needs .
Event Description .
Kudakwashe Chirambwi is a specialist in Peace , Leadership , and Conflict Transformation and teaches the same courses at the National University of Science and Technology ( Zimbabwe ). He has nine years of experience in providing training to the Zimbabwe Republic Police Women Network on Conflict Transformation , Leadership , and Community Policing and Dialogue . Training involves re-tooling ZRP Women Network with skills of developing evidence-based policing , particularly on the link between crime , justice , and rights-based policing . This lesson is based on his personal experience and on these sources :
• A Case Study of Gender and Security Sector Reform in Zimbabwe , N . Mushonga , African Security Review 24 ( 4 ), p . 430-437 , ( 2015 ).
• New Hyperinflation Index ( HHIZ ) Puts Zimbabwe Inflation at 89.7 Sextillion Percent , S . H . Hanke , Harare : Zimbabwe , ( 2008 ).
• UN Women Zimbabwe ( 2015 ), Zimbabwe .
• Zimbabwe Republic Police Women Network Strategic Plan - Vision 2017 , Zimbabwe Republic Police Women Network , Harare : Police General Headquarters , ( 2012 ).
• Note : For additional literature on policing in Zimbabwe , view the Lesson (# 2627 ) in SOLLIMS .
Lesson Author : Kudakwashe Chirambwi , University of Bradford ( UK )
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