When is it OK to kiss a colleague? Two Tanzanian police officers, whose kiss was widely shared on social media, have prompted a discussion about just that - and both have also lost their jobs.

A relationship with a colleague can throw up any number of complications, but the two young police officers in the picture may not have thought it would end their careers. The photograph - taken in Kagera, north west Tanzania - shows the pair kissing whilst dressed in their work uniforms, and was considered grounds for dismissal. Residents of the country have taken to social media to voice their dismay.
The image was uploaded to the internet by a third officer, who also took the photo, and drawn to the attention of the authorities at the Kagera police force. Henry Mwaibambe, the regional police commander, spoke to the BBC about the steps taken, and defends his department's decision. "We followed all disciplinary procedures to make sure that they were given a chance to defend themselves," he says. "The officer looking at the case was convinced there was compelling evidence against them, and that they had breached police code of conduct. That's why they lost their jobs." In this case it wasn't the kiss itself that led to their dismissal, but the fact that that it happened in public, whilst in uniform, and was subsequently posted online.

Indeed, the officer behind the camera also lost his job over the incident.

The story was picked up by the local press last week, and news of the punishment has surprised many on social media. Most believed the response was disproportionate. "They should have been reprimanded, sacking them is extreme, huuh!" posted one on Facebook. "I once saw a pic of former US President the late Reagan kissing his wife in the Oval Office... and nobody called for his impeachment," said another. "Police couple kissing taken more serious than bribery," wrote a thirdon Twitter.

Masoud George, a lawyer at the Tanzania Legal and Human Rights Center says that as severe as the punishment seems, the decision is unlikely to be illegal. "It is according to their code of conduct, so from a legal point of view we can't say their dismissal was unfair," he tells the BBC.
http://m.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-29599723

Never mixed work with pleasure. A recipe for disaster especially for those engaged in office romance.

Serves them right

do they really have to fire them?? what's even bad in kissing or having a relationship with a colleague as long as they keep it private and no PDA!! the person who fired them probably fvcks half the workers there mtchew

hehehehehe

Taking pics of one's kisses in uniform in public is stupidity, posting such online is foolishness, but sacking them I feel is extreme.

A suspension plus or minus transfer or demotion would hv been enough.

Hmmm,4 9ja, d police wu b like "it a devil work"

A minute of pleasure..
A bad day for them.
The photographer too join, eeya. O ye pictures or I don't believe it crew, beware

dey no even fit wait make work close.

Some people are not getting it

EroticAngelina:
do they really have to fire them?? what's even bad in kissing or having a relationship with a colleague as long as they keep it private and no PDA!! the person who fired them probably fvcks half the workers there mtchew

the fact that they were on uniform shows that they were combining work with pleasure which is very bad especially in military/paramilitary. I think its a case of national embarrassment.