FORMER Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga has expressed confidence in the incoming leadership of the force.
Matanga was recently retired, with former Deputy Police Commissioner-General Steven Mutamba taking over the reins from January 1 this year.
After assuming power on the back of a military coup, President Emmerson Mnangagwa appointed Matanga the Police Commissioner-General in 2017.
This was after Augustine Chihuri, the then police boss, had skipped the borders and settled in Malawi following the coup.
“I am, however, confident that a new broom sweeps clean and my successor will be able to ride on the achievements that we have made and tackle existing challenges head-on,” Matanga said.
“I am comforted to pass the baton to Comrade Steven Mutamba, whom I have been with in the trenches for many years and have no doubt in his capacity to steer the ship going forward.”
Matanga said he would venture into farming as he is a beneficiary of the land reform programme.
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“As I leave the Zimbabwe Republic Police, let me take this opportunity to inform everyone that I will be going into farming, which I benefited through the government’s land reform programme as well as pursue other business ventures,” he said.
Mutamba, the incoming police boss, said he was ready to take up his assigned role.
“I look forward to the support and co-operation from the people of Zimbabwe in our endeavour to guarantee continued public confidence in the police service,” he said.
“Growing up in the Zimbabwe Republic Police, I have learnt a lot from my colleagues and peers, including those from sister security institutions, which has helped me develop as a policeman and nurtured my capabilities.
“Going forward, I hope to build on the already reinforced pillars to ensure that the Zimbabwe Republic Police, indeed, becomes a modern police service that leverages technology towards fulfilling its constitutional mandate.”
Mutamba becomes the fifth Police Commissioner-General in independent Zimbabwe.
The first black commissioner of the newly-created Zimbabwe Republic Police was Wiridzayi Nguruve in 1982.
He led the police up to year 1985 and passed on the baton to Henry Mukurazhizha, who was subsequently succeeded by Augustine Chihuri in 1993.