A SENIOR police officer in Penhalonga in Mutasa district, Manicaland province, has been transferred to Chimanimani district in the same province for allegedly exposing corruption involving security personnel in the gold rich area.
Bernard Pasvani who was based at Penhalonga police station as an assistant inspector was transferred on September 15 to Cashel Valley in Chimanimani.
Pasvani confirmed his transfer in a Penhalonga WhatsApp group, adding that he would, however, remain in touch with the community.
“Good evening everyone, be advised that I was transferred to ZRP Cashel Valley last week on the 15th, but I shall remain in this group since I am a resident of Tsvingwe, Penhalonga,” he said
Pasvani’s transfer has raised eyebrows in Penhalonga with civil society organisations in Manicaland imploring ZRP Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga to protect whistleblowers who help uphold the law.
Pasvani has reportedly been unpopular with his workmates for exposing their corrupt activities.
In an interview with NewsDay this week, Centre for Research and Development director James Mupfumi said: “The failure by police in Penhalonga to arrest the establishment of close to a thousand illegal hammer mills and cyanidation sites that are processing gold to feed the thriving black market can only be attributed to corruption.
“Information that operators of these illegal structures are paying bribes to police for protection is awash. I call upon the commissioner-general of the police to protect whistleblowers who are defending the law.
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“I recommend that a police investigation team from police headquarters be dispatched to Penhalonga and listen to residents as a lasting solution to end grand theft of gold in Penhalonga.”
He added that political players interested in gold from Penhalonga had affected the effective policing of the area, making it difficult for the police to apply the rule of law, while security agents have resorted to corruption.
Penhalonga Youth Development Trust director Clinton Masanga said the community was worried about police officers who were being transferred for fighting corruption.
“We are worried because officers who have been fighting corruption are being transferred, without mentioning their names, and they are now victims for fighting corruption, we are really much concerned as a community,” he said.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was not aware of the case and would check with the province.
He had, however, not responded to NewsDay enquiries by the time of going to press.
