PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to make sweeping leadership changes at the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), which will see the Commissioner-General (CG) Godwin Matanga (pictured) being reassigned and replaced by Deputy Commissioner-General (DCG) Stephen Mutamba.
Sources in separate briefings with the Zimbabwe Independent this week revealed that Matanga, who was appointed in 2018 following the ouster of long-time president Robert Mugabe during the 2017 military intervention, will not complete his term set to end in 2028.
Approached for comment, Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe said he was unaware of the looming shake-up at the ZRP.
He said: “I am not aware of that, In any case I am away on government business. You can check with the acting minister but I am not aware of such an arrangement”.
Efforts to reach Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet, Martin Rushwaya, and Matanga were unsuccessful.
Matanga replaced Augustine Chihuri, who went into exile in 2017.
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At that time, Mnangagwa retired several senior police officers, including the then DCGs Innocent Matibiri, Levi Sibanda, and Josephine Shambare.
In addition, he also made sweeping changes in the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
The sources said Matanga could be reassigned to a diplomatic role.
One top government official said: “The changes were being made to revitalise the law enforcement institution and ensure alignment with Mnangagwa's vision and focus to fight corruption in the police force”.
He added that Matanga “may not complete his second term which is supposed to end in 2028. We will also definitely see other changes in the top ranks”. This will not be the first time Mnangagwa has made substantial changes in the security sector, including the Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, CIO and top police ranks.
This year, for instance, he promoted former Bulawayo Criminal Investigations Department co-ordinator and Officer Commanding Matabeleland North province, Commissioner Erasmus Makodza, to the rank of Deputy Commissioner-General.
Makodza was promoted alongside Commissioners David Mahoya, Kudakwashe Mubemi, Priscilla Makotose, Winston Muzah and Richard Basera.
The potential shift within the ZRP has sparked discussion among police officials.
“We are informed by our superiors that CG Matanga is earmarked for a post in the diplomatic service, which has become a new destination for retired security chiefs,” a police source revealed on condition of anonymity.
“Other officials are saying the DCG Stephen Mutamba is likely to take over.”
Mnangagwa's changes extend beyond the police force. Reports by the Independent from earlier this year indicated an ongoing restructuring within state-owned enterprises and government agencies.
“Significant movement of senior civil servants is also expected soon,” a government source said.
“These changes aim to address vacancies due to retirements and deaths, and reposition the state’s administration to better align with current goals.”
This initiative, which began in 2018, is driven by concerns over the financial drain posed by underperforming parastatals, whose contributions to the GDP have plummeted from 40% in the 1990s to a mere 12% by 2021.
In 2023, the Independent also reported massive changes in state commissions and government, including at permanent secretaries level.
In recent months, the president has also appointed new leadership across various state bodies, including naming Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo as Prosecutor-General and installing heads at the Mineral Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) and the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamonds Company (ZCDC).