By Crime and Courts Reporter–Retired Police Commissioner-General (CG) Godwin Matanga has publicly addressed his retirement, shedding light on how he was removed from office by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Matanga retired at the end of last year and officially handed over to Deputy Commissioner-General (DCG) Stephen Mutamba during a ceremony in Harare on Friday amid reports he had resisted leaving office.

Speaking at the event, Matanga dismissed speculation surrounding his exit:

“In the same manner, may I also take this opportunity to clarify an incorrect position that has been peddled in the media recently pertaining to my retirement. Ladies and gentlemen, listen carefully: I was properly served by the President of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Dr. Mnangagwa, at a time when my retirement was due.

“I am so content with the contribution and service I gave to the country in pursuit of national goals and aspirations. Suffice to say, the bar to modernize the police service is relatively high in view of resource constraints, skills flight, and crippling sanctions we have endured for decades, among other challenges.”

Matanga expressed confidence in his successor, saying:

“I am comfortable to pass the baton to Cde Stephen Mutamba, whom I have been with in the trenches for many years. I have no doubt in his capacity to steer the ship going forward.”

In October, Mnangagwa dismissed the head of the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s (ZRP) paramilitary Support Unit, with reports suggesting the move was a forced retirement. 

Two deputies from the unit were also reassigned to ZRP headquarters in Harare.

Insiders alleged these changes stemmed from power struggles within Zanu PF, where police operations conflicted with the interests of Mnangagwa’s political allies.

Appointed in 2018 after Robert Mugabe’s ouster in the 2017 military coup, Matanga’s tenure has been contentious. 

Sources suggest he could be reassigned to a diplomatic post. 

The Support Unit, nicknamed the “Black Boots,” is headquartered at Chikurubi and operates in multiple districts, including Fairbridge (Bulawayo), Buchwa (Zvishavane), and Changadzi.

Initially tasked with crowd control, disaster response, border patrol, and high-profile security, the unit under Matanga became increasingly militarised, effectively serving as a paramilitary arm of Zanu PF. 

The “Black Boots” were frequently deployed to suppress protests and intimidate opposition, particularly during elections.

As dissent grew under the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the Support Unit gained infamy for its heavy-handed tactics against opposition supporters, students, and civil society.

When Mnangagwa assumed power in 2017, he sidelined the police, whose loyalty had been closely tied to Mugabe. 

Following the disputed 2018 election, Mnangagwa deployed the military to suppress opposition protests in Harare, resulting in the deaths of at least six unarmed civilians. 

This marked a dramatic escalation in civilian repression, drawing comparisons to the Gukurahundi massacres of the 1980s.

While Matanga portrayed his retirement as amicable, his legacy remains intertwined with the complex power struggles and repressive tactics.