LOYALTY OVER MERIT: HOW MNANGAGWA USES POLICE TO STAY IN POWER

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has once again shown that he values loyalty more than ability. His appointment of Stephen Mutamba as the new police commissioner-general of Zimbabwe is proof of this. For years, it was clear that Mnangagwa wanted Mutamba in this powerful role. Now, it has finally happened. This move is not about making the police better. It is about keeping control. The police will continue to work for the ruling Zanu PF party instead of protecting ordinary people.

Mutamba is replacing Tandabantu Godwin Matanga, who has been in charge since 2017. Matanga got the job after the coup that removed Robert Mugabe. His time as police chief was never meant to last forever. But he stayed in power for years. Now, even though he is being replaced, he will still be in charge until December 2024. This long handover period is suspicious. It makes people wonder what secret deals have been made behind closed doors.

Matanga has been in the police force since 1982. He became deputy commissioner-general in 1992. After the coup, Mnangagwa made him the police boss to secure control over security forces. But under Matanga, things did not change for the better. The police still used force against citizens. They still arrested opposition members unfairly. Instead of making the police serve the people, Matanga made sure they served the government.

Now, Mutamba is taking over. But this is not good news. His past shows he is not a man who will bring change. He has been moved around in different police positions for years, being prepared for this job. In 2019, he was reassigned from Crime to Operations. In 2021, he was moved to Administration. These were all signs that Mnangagwa was getting him ready for the top job.

Mutamba’s loyalty to Mnangagwa is more important than his skills. He has been involved in many actions that have hurt Zimbabwe’s democracy. In 2022, the United States put sanctions on him. The US government accused him of helping Zanu PF stay in power by silencing opposition members. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he made sure that curfews were used to stop the opposition. Zanu PF rallies were allowed to happen, but opposition meetings were blocked. He also worked to stop foreign officials from meeting opposition leaders.

In 2021, Mutamba was involved in efforts to hide vote tallies from the public. He also made sure that international election observers could not monitor the 2023 elections. His actions made it harder for Zimbabweans to have free and fair elections. Now, as commissioner-general, he has more power to continue these tactics.

The message from Mnangagwa is clear: the police do not work for the people. They work for Zanu PF. For years, Zimbabweans have suffered under a police force that does not protect them. Instead, the police are used to crush anyone who speaks against the government. With Mutamba in charge, this will continue.

This appointment comes at a time when Zimbabwe is facing serious problems. The economy is failing. Poverty is rising. Many Zimbabweans are unhappy. Instead of fixing these issues, the government is focusing on keeping power. They are making sure the police remain under their control. Mutamba’s appointment is not about making the police better. It is about making sure they continue working for Zanu PF.

People in Zimbabwe are not expecting anything new from Mutamba. His past is full of repression and undemocratic actions. Mnangagwa supports him completely, which means he will continue doing the same things. This is bad news for Zimbabwe. It shows that the government is not interested in change.

The big question now is how long Zimbabweans will accept this. The country needs leaders who care about the people. But under Mnangagwa, loyalty to him is more important than loyalty to the country. This is why Mutamba is now the police chief. The cycle of repression continues. And unless something changes, Zimbabweans will keep suffering under a police force that does not serve them.