HARARE
–
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
(ZRP)
Commissioner
General
Godwin
Matanga
has
been
retired
as
police
boss
with
his
deputy
Stephen
Mutamba
promoted
to
replace
him.
The
retirement
takes
effect
after
duty
on
December
31,
2024,
according
to
Chief
Secretary
to
the
President
and
Cabinet
Martin
Rushwaya.
Matanga
replaced
Augustine
Chihuri,
who
fled
into
exile
in
2017,
and
has
overseen
the
police
during
politically
sensitive
periods.
The
police
boss
would
be
remembered
for
presiding
over
some
of
the
police
force’s
brutal
episodes
and
alleged
partisanship.
Under
Matanga,
a
lot
of
opposition
activists
and
human
rights
defenders
were
arrested
and
endured
long
incarceration
usually
for
allegedly
convening
illegal
gatherings
and
inciting
vilence.
Unconfirmed
reports
suggest
Matanga,
who
was
appointed
in
2018
following
the
ouster
of
long-time
President
Robert
Mugabe,
may
be
reassigned
to
a
diplomatic
role.
His
successor
Mutamba’s
appointment
is
with
effect
from
the
1st
of
January
2025.
Rushwaya,
in
a
statement,
said,
“In
terms
of
Section
221(1)
of
the
Constitution
of
Zimbabwe,
His
Excellency,
the
President
Cde
Dr
Emmerson
Dambudzo
Mnangagwa
has
appointed
Deputy
Commissioner
General
Stephen
Mutamba
as
Commissioner
General
of
the
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police.”