Rotarians award best Cop of the year

Valentine Marc Nkwame

Inspector General of Police, Omari Mahita, speaking hands with SSP Lucas Kusima before he officially opened the 24th Southern African Region Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (SARPCCO) crimes committee meeting held at the Hotel Equator from Monday to Wednesday. (Photo by Raymond John)

This year=s Christmas won=t be the same for Detective Constable, Alexander Marangi of the Arusha Regional Police Department, who has just been named the Best Cop of 2004, by the Rotary Club of Arusha-Mount Meru, at a brief ceremony  held on Monday.

Constable Alexander, who happens to be away on training in Zanzibar, will soon be coming home to find some surprise gifts. The officer has been awarded with a special Trophy, for the outstanding services, but the Rotarians have also presented him with a gift; a new Sony AWEGA@ 21 Inch, Flat screen Television set, (complete with Intelligent Signal Boost) whose current retail price value stands at Tsh.450,000.

The president for the Rotary club of Arusha-Mount Meru, Adelaide Whest, presented both the award and the gift to the Senior Superintendent Police Officer (SSP), Ali Mhando who received them on behalf of Constable Alexander. The event took place at the Impala Hotel, a regular meeting venue for the club.

SSP Mhando was representing the Regional Police Commander, James Kombe who was hosting a delegation of 12 Police Chiefs of the Southern African countries, who were meeting in Arusha at that time. The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Omar Mahita, also sent his Information officer to represent him at the Rotary awarding function.

The Press Officer for the Rotary Club of Arusha-Mount Meru, Sukhdev Chhatbar told this paper that  the best cop of the year had actually been identified by the heads of the Arusha Regional Police Department, after being requested by the club to name an outstanding Police officer from their force for the award.

Presenting the award, the Rotary-Mount Meru, president, Adelaide Whest said as soon as Constable Alexander completes his training, he will be invited to one of the club meetings, so that he could share his experiences with the members, especially on how he managed to emerge the best cop of the year, plus being given a hearty standing ovation from the Rotarians.

Receiving the gifts on the constable=s behalf, the Police Superintendent Ali Mhando  pointed out that  it was not easy to be a local police officer and even more difficult for most to work with dedication as they are usually faced with difficult working conditions and poor salaries. He urged other organizations to emulate the Rotary club example  by recognizing the efforts of hard working Police officers in the region.

Chartered on June 25, 2002. The Rotary club of Arusha-Mount Meru, made of more youthful members, is the second in the region, after the older Rotary club of Arusha. It is one of the 11 rotary clubs in Tanzania, four of which, are situated in Dar-Es-Salaam city, Two in Arusha, with the remaining five in Bukoba, Dodoma, Tanga, Moshi and Mwanza, respectively.