Zimbabwe's government has banned "with immediate effect" police officers from using mobile phones while working.
The ban is contained in a memo, ordering police officers to abandon their private communication gadgets while on duty.
All officers are required to surrender their mobile phones to their supervisors once they get to their stations and only use them during their break time.
No reasons were cited for the ban in the memo but it is widely believed this could be part of efforts to curb police corruption.
It comes a few days after two traffic enforcement officers were arrested in the capital, Harare after a viral social media video exposed them taking bribes from public transport vehicles.
Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi described the two detained officers as "bad apples who do not deserve to be serving in the police service".
The new mobile policy seeks to reinforce what appears to have been a previous order addressed to all stations late last month.
It said "despite numerous instructions given forbidding use of cell phones whilst on duty by members of the police service, commanders are not enforcing this".
"No member is allowed to be in possession of a cell phone whilst on duty. Cell phones should only be used during break and lunch times," reads the circular.
Officers in charge of police stations have been ordered to enforce the ban, with threats issued against those who do not comply.
"Once a member is found with a cell phone whilst on duty, the officer in-charge of the said member will be put to task," the memo adds.
Police are perceived to be among the most corrupt institutions in Zimbabwe because of low salaries and poor working conditions.
Latest Stories
-
Elon Musk is sued over $1m election giveaway
1 hour -
US official sees little voting disruption tied to foreign interference
2 hours -
Nigeria court frees 119 protesters after government drops charges
2 hours -
French families sue TikTok over harmful content
2 hours -
Slapping MP shows generational change may not end abuse of power in Nigeria
2 hours -
Zimbabwe bans police from using mobile phones while on duty
2 hours -
Killers of Ugandan Olympian sentenced to 35 years
3 hours -
Elon Musk to spend election night with Donald Trump
3 hours -
Accusations fly in Spain over who is to blame for flood disaster
3 hours -
UCL: Real Madrid lose to AC Milan in second straight home defeat
3 hours -
Queen Camilla cancels events due to chest infection
3 hours -
Economy is growing below potential – IEA
3 hours -
UCL: Gyokeres hat-trick as Amorim’s Sporting thrash Man City
3 hours -
Equatorial Guinea VP warns against office sex after viral videos
3 hours -
Netflix Europe offices raided in tax fraud probe
3 hours