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Godwin Matanga

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Godwin Matanga
Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 February 2018
Acting from 19 December 2017
PresidentEmmerson Mnangagwa
Preceded byAugustine Chihuri
Personal details
Born (1962-02-05) 5 February 1962 (age 62)
Chipinge, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)
SpouseChamapiwa Matanga

Tandabantu Godwin Matanga (born 5 February 1962) is a Zimbabwean police officer who serves as the current commissioner-general of the Zimbabwe Republic Police since 19 December 2017. He took office after the removal of Augustine Chihuri following the November 2017 coup d'état, and was officially appointed as commissioner-general on 12 February 2018 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. He joined the police in 1982 and previously had been deputy commissioner-general since 1992.

A veteran of Zimbabwe's war of independence, Matanga is closely aligned with ZANU–PF and has been involved in internal party politics and anti-opposition political violence. He has been subject to American and British sanctions since 2005 and 2021, respectively.

Police career

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Matanga was born on 5 February 1962 in Chipinge, Manicaland Province, in what was then Southern Rhodesia.[1][2] In 1978, the 16-year-old Matanga joined the liberation struggle, crossing the border into Mozambique to join the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army.[1][3][4] In 1979, he was deployed to Romania and Egypt for training.[1] After the war, Matanga joined the Zimbabwe Republic Police as a patrol officer in October 1982.[1] He subsequently rose through the ranks and was appointed deputy commissioner-general in 1992.[1]

By the mid-2000s, Matanga became a member of the Joint Operations Command, Zimbabwe's top state security coordinating body.[5][6] On 22 November 2005, Matanga was placed under United States Treasury Department sanctions, along with 127 other Zimbabweans accused of "hindering the democratic transition of Zimbabwe," by President George W. Bush, who described the 2005 Zimbabwean parliamentary election as "not free or fair."[7] In 2011, it was reported that Matanga was vying against Innocent Matibiri, a nephew of President Robert Mugabe, for the position of commissioner-general amid rumors that Augustine Chihuri's term would not be renewed.[8] Matanga is closely aligned with the ruling party, ZANU–PF, and has been involved in internal party politics and anti-opposition political violence.[9] In 2012, he was present at a meeting of the ZANU–PF provincial coordinating committee for Manicaland ahead of the 2013 elections, along with other top army and police officials.[10]

On 19 December 2017, Matanga was appointed acting commissioner-general of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.[1][11] He replaced Augustine Chihuri, an ally of President Robert Mugabe, who was forced to retire after the president was ousted in the November 2017 coup d'état.[1][11][12][13][14] According to Chihuri, Matanga helped set the coup in motion when he told the country's military commander, Constantino Chiwenga, that Chihuri was planning to arrest him.[14] On 12 February 2018, Matanga was officially appointed commissioner-general by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.[1][2] Matanga was involved in efforts to seize former commissioner-general Chihuri's assets, alleged obtained via corrupt means during his term as commissioner-general.[14][15] Chihuri accused Matanga of sending police to set his home on fire and harass his family, and of being unqualified for the post of police chief.[15]

On 1 February 2021, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Matanga, along with state security minister Owen Ncube, Central Intelligence Organisation director Isaac Moyo, and Presidential Guard commander Anselem Sanyatwe.[16][17] The sanctions bar Matanga and the others from traveling to the UK or accessing the country's banks, and were the first sanctions put in place by Britain unilaterally since its departure from the European Union.[16][17] The British Foreign Office said Matanga "bears responsibility for serious human rights violations committed by the police and military during the crackdown on post-election protests in August 2018, which resulted in six civilian deaths."[17] In November 2021 and March 2022, Matanga was ordered to pay compensation to three victims of police brutality.[18]

Personal life

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Matanga is married to Chamapiwa Matanga.[19] He has at least two sons, who are involved in the ZANU–PF Youth League.[20][21]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Chikwati, Elita (13 February 2018). "Matanga confirmed police chief". The Herald. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Appointment of Comm-Gen welcome". The Manica Post. 16 February 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2023 – via PressReader.
  3. ^ Mutsakani, Abel (4 January 2001). "Government Arms War Vets". The Financial Gazette. Retrieved 19 January 2023 – via allAfrica.
  4. ^ Kachere, Phyllis (24 April 2020). "Why we interrupted Mujuru: Ex-fighter speaks out". The Herald. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  5. ^ Rupiya, Martin R., ed. (2013). Zimbabwe's Military: Examining its Veto Power in the Transition to Democracy, 2008–2013. Pretoria: African Public Policy and Research Institute. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-620-56750-3.
  6. ^ "Zimbabwe security agencies warn of violent Mugabe ouster". ZimOnline. 20 October 2005. Retrieved 20 January 2023 – via ReliefWeb.
  7. ^ Bush, George W. (22 November 2005). Amendment of the National Emergency with Respect to Zimbabwe. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Publishing Office.
  8. ^ "Matanga, Matibiri battle for top cop job". The Zimbabwean. 14 September 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  9. ^ Godwin, Peter (2011). The Fear: Robert Mugabe and the Martyrdom of Zimbabwe. New York: Back Bay Books. p. 142. ISBN 978-0-316-12331-0.
  10. ^ Zaba, Faith (6 May 2012). "Soldiers take over Zanu PF commissariat". Nehanda Radio. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  11. ^ a b Abbink, Jon; Adetula, Victor; Mehler, Andreas; Melber, Henning, eds. (2018). Africa Yearbook: Politics, Economy and Society South of the Sahara in 2017. Vol. 14. Leiden: Brill. pp. 528–529. ISBN 978-90-04-36763-0.
  12. ^ Duri, Fidelis Peter Thomas; Marongwe, Ngonidzashe; Mawere, Munyaradzi (2019). Mugabeism after Mugabe?: Rethinking Legacies and the New Dispensation in Zimbabwe's 'Second Republic'. Masvingo: Africa Talent Publishers. p. 211. ISBN 978-1-77929-626-9.
  13. ^ "Police Chief Augustine Chihuri fired, Sibanda promoted, Chiwenga retired... set to be VP". Nehanda Radio. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  14. ^ a b c Ndebele, Lenin (28 June 2020). "Mugabe's last loyal and super-rich general speaks out about 'betrayal' as state moves to seize his assets". HeraldLIVE. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  15. ^ a b Dube, Casper (28 June 2020). "'Police Commissioner Godwin Matanga doesn't have O Levels'". Savanna News. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  16. ^ a b "UK announces sanctions against 4 Zimbabwean security chiefs". AP. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  17. ^ a b c Moyo, Jeffrey (1 February 2021). "UK slaps sanctions on 4 Zimbabwean officials". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  18. ^ "Zimbabwe Minister, Police Chief Avoid Incarceration After Paying Z$300,000 for Victims of State Security Brutality". VOA. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  19. ^ Rupapa, Tendai (31 July 2021). "First lady engages police spouses". The Herald. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Mnangagwa's Son Eyes Top ZANU PF Youth League Post". The Zimbabwean. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  21. ^ Muonwa, James (7 April 2022). "Bigwigs, Securocrats Line Children Up for Zanu-PF Youth League Posts". New Zimbabwe. Retrieved 22 January 2023 – via allAfrica.
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