HARARE – Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga has ordered Constable Chitembetembe’s transfer request to a Kadoma police station so he could be able to mind his disabled child.
This comes after the junior police officer’s request had earlier been denied by the Officer Commanding Police Mashonaland West Province, Assistant Commissioner Nyazema, who callously challenged his subordinate to tender his resignation within 24 hours if he so found his child’s welfare a bigger priority than his job.
Chitembetembe was seeking a transfer from ZRP Siakobvu to any police station in Kadoma district so he could be able to monitor his child Donald Chitembetembe who has a disability.
The child was assessed by the Ministry of Education and placed at Rubatsiro Zimcare Trust in Kadoma 2021.
The child’s plight was worsened by that his mother, Lorrain Chuma also works as a school teacher at Senkwazi Primary School in Kwekwe, about 250 kilomitres from the family home in Kadoma.
In a terse response to Chitembetembe’s request, Nyazemba had written, “Member to retire on 24 hour notice or stay at Chalala Post. Choose any of the two options.”
The leaked correspondence went viral on social media, inviting a public outcry which prompted Matanga’s intervention.
In a statement, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said, “The Commissioner-General of Police has taken note of the viral social media post regarding Constable Chitembetembe of ZRP Siakobvu’s urgent family welfare issue.
“The public is accordingly advised that Commissioner-General Tandabantu Godwin Matanga has immediately corrected the anomaly and directed the ZRP’s Human Resources Department to ensure that the member’s family welfare is prioritised.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police thanks everyone who raised concerns over this issue.”
Chitembetembe had sought his transfer after he had been moved from ZRP Kadoma Traffic to Siakobvu.
