Reports that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has banned uniformed officers from entering betting shops and casinos for any unofficial assignment emerged this week. The decision follows photos making the rounds on social media, showing police officers inside betting shops, with some appearing to be actively placing bets.
The nation’s police force, and the public, frowned upon the act. In response, national police Commissioner Paul Nyathi made the new declaration at the inaugural H-Metro National Forum On Responsible Betting in Harare on 12 July.
“Police officers in uniform must not enter betting shops or casinos to gamble. This does not portray the police in a good light, and such behaviour is strongly discouraged. [Therefore] anyone caught doing so will face disciplinary action,” Nyathi said at the conference.
ZRP faced with a new directive
The conference brought together respected gambling stakeholders, Lotteries and Gaming Board members and various government entities with the aim of progressing responsible gambling actions in the market,
Nyathi said officers discovered to be gambling while in uniform would face grave punishments.
The Zimbabwe police betting shop ban is part of a wider push to ensure professionalism and that respect for law enforcement agencies is upheld, the commissioner said.
The identities of the officers s involved in the incident were not revealed, but images shared on social media showed two of them huddled over the counter in a betting shop.
It remains to be seen whether officers that participate in gambling will adhere to this directive, but the warning could not be clearer.
What could have influenced Zimbabwe police to gamble publically?
Zimbabwe’s ongoing economic hardship has been on the rise in recent years. This could have influenced law enforcement agents to turn to gambling.
As per the World Bank’s 2024 annual report, data has shown the El Niño event in recent years (2023-24) and the late rains in 2024-25 could have increased the poverty rate in Zimbabwe.
With around 70% of the country’s population relying on agriculture for their livelihoods, these weather events clearly posed a huge challenge.
The ban follows images and reports of Zimbabwe police officers gambling in a local betting shop. Evidence was shared across social media and produced backlash.