By A Correspondent| The newly appointed Police chief, Commissioner General Stephen Mutamba is making sweeping changes to the Police amid rumors that officers perceived to be aligned to the just retired Commissioner General Godwin Matanga are being purged to positions of less influence.
The sources also linked the changes to political factions in Zanu PF and the 2030 agenda. Last week National Police Spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi had to issue a statement dispelling rumours that Matanga was resisting retirement.
Unusual to Police tradition, Mutamba is carrying out the transfers quietly with no notices to the rest of the force.
“Police officers wake up in the morning to see a new Police boss. This is how secretive Mutamba’s appointments are taking place,” said a source.
Those affected are from the rank of Superintendent to Commissioner.
The most notable transfer is that of Commissioner Crispen Charumbira who has been transferred back to CID after he was removed a few years ago following allegations of misconduct. He was until this week, Officer Commanding Masvingo. He was cleared of the charges that he was facing.
“Commissioner Charumbira is back in Harare and he has called for a meeting of all chief superintendents in the CID at the Police Headquarters tomorrow,” said a source.
One source said that Charumbira is earmarked to become Mutamba’s Deputy Commissioner General. Another Commissioner, a Ms Philipe removed from CID by Matanga has been transferred back.
Commissioner Nyabasa who was Officer Commanding CID and allegedly aligned to Matanga has been transferred to Mat North. It is generally thought in the Police force that senior officers are sent to Mat North as punishment.
The other commissioners that Mutamba transferred are Nyirenda to Mash Central, Nyakutsikwa to PI, Sithole to Chiadzwa, Hlabiso to Electronic Traffic Management, Ndou to Monitoring and Evaluation, Chizemo to Bulawayo, Mbengwa to Masvingo, AC Zengeya acting CSO Transport and Tembo back to PGHQ Training and Development, Tshuma back to Staff College and Makamache to Anti Stock Theft.