Twenty-four newly qualified Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) canine trainers and instructors have been challenged to use their skills and trained dogs to combat emerging crimes, particularly drug and substance abuse.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Deputy Commissioner-General (DCG) responsible for Production and Business Management, Social Ndanga, Deputy Commissioner-General (DCG) responsible for Production and Business Management, Social Ndanga, called the shots las Friday while officiating at the combined graduation parade for Basic Canine Trainers Course Number 5 and Junior Canine Instructors Course Number 3 at the ZPCS Canine Training School.
The graduates completed four months of specialised training, with six completing the Junior Canine Instructors Course and 18 the Basic Canine Trainers Course.
The Junior Canine Instructors Course comprised five males and one female, while the Basic Canine Trainers Course had 15 males and three females.
Three of the Basic Canine Trainers Course candidates, comprising two males and one female, were drawn from the Air Force of Zimbabwe.
DCG Ndanga urged the graduates to apply their skills in addressing national security threats.
“You must be aware that besides executing your daily duties for the Service, you are public servants embedded within a dynamic national landscape, and your responsibilities extend far beyond the prison walls to include dealing with national threats,” he said.
“The nation is grappling with the global threat of drug and substance use, which has become a scourge.
“Let us utilise these dogs and the extensive skills we have acquired here to fight drug and substance abuse.”
He also commended female graduates for excelling in a traditionally male-dominated field.
“To our female graduands, your triumph in this physically demanding, traditionally male-dominated area sends an unmistakable message that competence, perseverance and operational excellence recognise no gender boundaries,” he said.
Correctional Officer Grade 1 (CO1) Mayenzanise Delight Natsayi emerged as the best student in the Junior Canine Instructors Course, while CO1 Kondo Christian Praise was the top student in the Basic Canine Trainers Course.
ZPCS Canine Training School Canine Master Superintendent Robert Mangena commended the graduates for their discipline, commitment and determination throughout the training programme.
The training is aimed at strengthening ZPCS capacity to deploy canine units in law enforcement, security operations and the detection of emerging threats.
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