The Zimbabwe Independent

Top ZRP bosses witchhunt for moles at CID

- Dependent Zimbabwe InIndepend­ent

SENIOR Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers have launched a massive witchhunt against perceived moles leaking informatio­n about underhand dealings involving bosses stationed at the Criminal Investigat­ions Department (CID).

†is comes after the

reported two weeks ago that an alleged undergroun­d syndicate comprising top police officers and civilians involved in the traffickin­g of drugs and firearms, had been busted after a tip off to the Special AntiCorrup­tion Unit (Sacu).

†e Sacu is housed under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office and complement­s the work of the police and the Zimbabwe AntiCorrup­tion Commission (Zacc).

Sources told the this week that some junior officers have been threatened with transfers to remote areas as punishment for spying on their bosses.

A report has since been made to Sacu on that issue.

Sources said the arrest of CID boss Chrispen Charumbira triggered plotting and counterplo­tting within the police where some officers expected to testify against their bosses have since been targeted for transfers.

†is is despite the fact that some junior officers at CID recently approached police Commission­erGeneral Godwin Matanga seeking protection in the event that they testified against their bosses.

“†ere has been a lot of victimisat­ion of junior officers over the past few weeks and we are informed some officers set to testify in court against the bosses are being threatened or have since been informed of looming transfers,” a police source said.

“†e witnesses have since reported the matter internally where an investigat­ion is currently being carried out. Another report was also filed to Sacu,” the source said.

Another source said: “†ere is also a team of detectives willing to testify against top police bosses on allegation­s that they are being assigned to protect private individual­s for instance those involved in gold dealing and in return the money will be paid to the top cops. †is has been the trend where one aspiring Zanu PF councilor (name withheld) is enjoying protection services from a detective sergeant stationed at the CID Homicide department.”

“SACU has since engaged CG Matanga on the matter of concerning victimisat­ion of witnesses and there is a huge possibilit­y of more heads rolling in very high places within the organisati­on,” the source further said.

Contacted for comment this week, Sacu head Tabani Mpofu confirmed receiving the report but would not shed more light saying doing so would jeopardise investigat­ions.

Some of the police officers implicated in the criminal activities include assistant commission­ers, superinten­dents and inspectors. — Staff Writer.

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