By Carlos Claudio, Dodoma.
The Tanzania Police Force, through the Community Policing Unit in Dodoma Region, has provided education to students and teachers at Mazengo Primary School on safety, the effects of gender-based violence, and ways of preventing crime.
The initiative is part of the celebrations marking 20 years of Community Policing in Tanzania.
The education was provided by the Acting Dodoma Regional Community Policing Officer, ASP Regina Mtana, during a visit by the Community Policing Unit to the school, where they also participated in a cleaning exercise.
ASP Mtana said Mazengo Primary School was selected in recognition of its importance to the community and its long-standing contribution to producing leaders who have served the country in various capacities.
She said Community Policing aims to work closely with members of the public because crime occurs within communities and cannot be effectively controlled without cooperation between citizens and the Police Force.
She explained that one of the major responsibilities of Community Policing is to prevent crime before it occurs by providing public education, identifying signs of criminal activity and encouraging citizens to report crimes and criminals.
“We are bringing policing closer to the community because our primary responsibility is to ensure that the community is safe. We cannot eliminate crime without working together with citizens,” said ASP Mtana.
She said students are an important part of the community and are among those who may be vulnerable to acts of violence, particularly gender-based violence. She therefore emphasized the need for regular safety and crime-prevention education in schools.
ASP Mtana warned students against walking in dangerous areas, particularly at night, and stressed the importance of reporting incidents whenever they experience or witness acts of violence.
For his part, Kikuyu North Ward Councillor, Heri Huseini Beji, thanked the Police Force for continuing to provide safety education to the community, saying the initiative has contributed to reducing crime in the ward.
He said Community Policing has been working closely with the community through education provided by ward police officers, helping residents, including children, to identify risks around them and understand how to respond to them.
Councillor Beji also highlighted the contribution of Minister for Minerals and Mtumba Member of Parliament, Anthony Mavunde, who attended Mazengo Primary School, saying he has continued to support the development of the school and the wider community.
He said Mavunde’s contributions have included improving classrooms, constructing new classrooms and supporting other essential services in the ward.
Meanwhile, Mazengo Primary School Headteacher, Rehema Nkungu, said the education provided by the Police Force has played a significant role in changing students’ behaviour and increasing their awareness of personal safety.
She said students have become more aware of acts of violence that may occur at home, at school or within the community, as well as the appropriate places to report such incidents.
“We sincerely thank the Police Force for being at the forefront of helping to protect children’s safety through education and the Gender Desk,” said Rehema.
She added that older students have also become ambassadors by educating younger students and their families about safety issues.
Some students at Mazengo Primary School said the education had helped them understand their rights, learn how to protect themselves from gender-based violence and identify where to report such incidents.
They said they had learned about the effects of gender-based violence, including early pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and the impact on their education, development and future dreams.
The students also pledged to share the knowledge with younger pupils and their families.
The 20th anniversary of Community Policing is being commemorated under a theme that emphasizes community cooperation in maintaining peace, security and national unity, with public education being highlighted as one of the key approaches to preventing crime.
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