With the next General Election just under a year away, preparations should begin in earnest to set in place all the contingencies to ensure that it's well-conducted, free and fair.

And since security is of paramount importance in this vital national exercise of choosing the country's leaders, the training of police officers to enhance their efficiency during this time is crucial.

The ongoing four-day seminar in Morogoro Region to equip police to effectively tackle the mounting wave of crime as the poll, expected to be held next October approaches, is proof that the authorities are seriously thinking about the impending challenges.

The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Mr Robert Manumba, who should know better, is warning that if what transpired during the recent civic elections is anything to go by, greater vigilance by the security forces will definitely be required next year.

Among other things, the officers will be getting some training on politics to give them insights into how to conduct themselves, as they must maintain their neutrality while seriously enforcing the law.

This training is crucial as it will give the officers the knowledge on how to tackle the numerous problems they will be confronted with next year.

In previous elections, either by design or accident, the actions of the Police Force have been seen, especially by opposition parties, as tailored towards enabling the ruling party to win. But we would rather see this as indicative of the lingering single-party mentality that has shaped the force over the years.

The officers are more inclined to work with those associated with the government, forgetting that even the opposition is a legal entity and, in such a system, effectively the government in waiting.

We hope that policing during the elections will no longer be seen as part of the forces aimed at curtailing democracy. In fact, there is need to build on the lessons from the past elections as the force strives to offer an exemplary service this time around.

We hope the civic education will also be going on in various other sectors, and among the political parties to make the various players realise that this is only competition for leadership and not a war between the various entities.