Several non-commissioned police officers have been transferred with immediate effect from Matapi Police Station in Mbare, Nhau has learnt.

The transfers are reportedly a consequence of an “operation gone wrong” targeting over a thousand second-hand clothing bales smuggled into the station’s jurisdiction. The station is also under the spotlight for failing to deal with cartels, who peddle dangerous drugs, with particular focus being the highly potent mutoriro (crystal meth) also known as guka.

Sources within the police force revealed that the bales were raided from Nenyere flats on Sunday evening and taken to the station. Due to lack of adequate storage facilities, some of the contraband was transferred to Mbare, Stodart and Waterfalls police stations for safe keeping.

The sources also divulged that a tip-off was made at ZRP Harare Provincial headquarters under the command of Commissioner Walter Tembo alleging that some of the impounded bales were corruptly diverted either back to their owners or looted by those involved in the operation.

This is not the first time the notorious Matapi Police Station has made headlines for the wrong reasons. On New Year’s Day 2021, officers at the station failed to enforce Covid-19 lockdown regulations after Arnold Kamudyariwa, popularly known as DJ Fantan, hosted an illegal all-night “super-spreader” gig that attracted thousands of people to Matapi flats.

As a result, four senior officers namely; Superintendent Innocent Makumbe, the then officer-in-charge Inspector Garikai Jiyane, Inspector Peace Nyarai Gunhe and Assistant Inspector Vengai Mupamhanga were suspended pending disciplinary action. Nhau/Indaba