𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐒 ??:𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐂𝐨𝐩 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙖 𝙂𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙒𝙝𝙮?

The arrest of CID director, Commissioner Chrispen Charumbira, who was remanded in custody by Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa on Saturday has left many questions than answers.For a police officer of his experience and stature, his charge sheet is a little disconcerting. Protecting small fish like the Mufakose drug peddler whose crime earned him a $100-dollar fine? Shielding a small time Mutare diamond dealer? Defending a truck owner whose driver did not know what he was carrying … and for what, only two bags of mbanje?Is the economic situation so tough that Zimbabwe’s high-ranking officers could stoop so low? Take for instance the late former national commissioner of the South African Police Service Jackie Selebi who protected sophisticated criminals. Big monies were involved and he, of course, went down for it. One could say it was worth it.If Commissioner Charumbira goes down because of these petty crimes, would he say it was worth it? Could he be one of the dumbest, most stupid high-ranking police officers around? If that is the case, then how did he get to the position of CID director? Is someone going through his trash just to get him off the scene? Will he fight back? Will the world get to know the real reason he is currently behind bars? What are we missing here?

𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙨

There are a lot of conspiracy theories surrounding his incarceration.Sources within the police force claim he could be a victim of the jostling for power that has emerged following revelations that Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga is now due for retirement.“My brother, senior officers at that level are jostling for power. They want to position themselves for promotion to the rank of Commissioner-General and they are exposing each other’s shenanigans so that those who are ‘clean’ remain in the race,” said a police source.It could also be political. Charumbira was instrumental in the Delish Nguwaya case, whose connection to the first family has now been laid bare. Could he be suffering for failing to protect Nguwaya and the First Family in the process?Factional wars could also be at play here. Several news reports and credible sources within Zanu PF have revealed cracks within the party’s leadership, particularly Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and his boss Emmerson Mnangagwa.Having influence on certain Ministries and important posts in various arms of the State is regarded as one of the ways of guaranteeing one’s control and power.The latest area the factional wars could be manifesting themselves is the police force. One faction may have decided that Commissioner Charumbira must be neutralised.One should also not rule out that perhaps the regime has decided to clean up by going after dirty cops and dirty Ministers and other public officials as the country gears for economic growth.After all, Commissioner Charumbira is facing three counts of defeating or attempting to defeat the course of justice and one count of criminal abuse of office. He was accused of contravening Section 189, as read with Section 184(I), of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9.23.Maybe he just a dirty cop who had become arrogant and is now paying for his crimes. If convicted, Charumbira faces a lengthy custodial sentence.If he is acquitted he is likely to be removed from office and get dumped into the “Commissioner’s Pool”, where “undisciplined and corrupt” officers are relegated to pending retirement or discharge from the police force.Either way, he is screwed.

𝙍𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚

It takes 11 rank steps to get to his current position. After completion of a basic six-month training, a junior police officer graduates with the rank of Constable. She/he has to serve for four years before undergoing promotion examinations to the rank of Sergeant.From Sergeant, after serving two more years, one becomes an Assistant Inspector, which is the highest non-commissioned rank also equivalent to the rank of Sergeant Major.Once one becomes an officer promotion becomes a little tougher although it takes less time. Crossing this line through rigorous examinations one attains the rank of Inspector, which is the lowest rank as officer before becoming a Chief Inspector, an equivalent of the rank of Captain in the army.After serving a minimum of one year as Chief Inspector, one attains the rank of Superintendent, automatically becoming a justice of peace.From Superintendent one attains the rank of Chief Superintendent equivalent to the office of magistrate, then to the rank of Assistant Commissioner, becoming a senior officer.Serving at this rank will lead one to be promoted to the rank of Commissioner (formerly Senior Assistant Commissioner), then Deputy Commissioner General and finally attaining the rank of Commissioner General.However, promotion varies with educational qualifications according to Section 9 of the Police Act. Degreed professionals can skip the normal process of rank structure.A lawyer or any other professional can jump from Constable to Assistant Inspector then Superintendent, to Assistant Commissioner.Medical doctors can start service at the rank of Assistant Commissioner.However, promotion to the last four senior ranks is also determined by political status and affiliation.Discipline and a clean record of service also counts for promotion considerations, meaning that one may pass promotional exams but fail to get promotion because of a tainted record of service and indiscipline.A normal rise in the rank and file of the police force takes no less than 17 years to get to the top.So, one might ask, why risk getting involved in petty crimes if it takes not less than 20 years of service, hard work, political manoeuvring and luck for one to become a Commissioner. Nhau/Indaba

𝐍𝐡𝐚𝐮_𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙪𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙. 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙮 “𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙨 ??” 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙙𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙮.