Tanzania President Samia Suluhu is going for the weight and discipline of the police force in a bid to boost its image and efficiency.

This week, President Samia said the force must change and operate with integrity and respect to human rights, and should be ready to learn and adopt technology in fighting crime.

At a forum with police chiefs in Moshi, Kilimanjaro region, the president indicated her intention is to have a police force that is both fit physically, updated with latest tools of trade and one that knows the law.

But first, she wants the officers to trim their weight. She told them to head back to training school and exercise.

President Samia consequently directed the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to ensure that investigations and evidence are completed before arresting and prosecuting an individual. In addition, the president added, suspects must be treated within the law, including having rights to own lawyers.

“We are now setting for general overhauling of the police force as to make it more effective,” she said on Tuesday.

She was opening a three-day working meeting for top police offers that her government, part of consultative conferences to reform the police and motivate them to combat crime such as banditry and help reduce road carnage.

Newly appointed Inspector General of Police Camilius Wambura had told the president that a total of 1,840 suspects were set free in recent months due to lack of prosecution evidence after spending several days in remand prisons in various parts of Tanzania.