Army Officially Takes Over Police Duties.
ZIMBABWE POLICE COMMISSIONER CONFIRMS JOINT OPERATIONS COMMAND NOW CONTROLLING LAW ENFORCEMENT
By A Correspondent | ZimEye | Harare, 20 March 2025 – In a stunning development, the Commissioner-General of Police, Stephen Mutamba, has effectively confirmed that Zimbabwe’s law enforcement is no longer under the command of the police but has been ceded to the powerful Joint Operations Command (JOC).
In a formal letter dated 18 March 2025, addressed to “The Concerned Citizens of Zimbabwe” and referencing a planned nationwide peaceful demonstration scheduled for 20 March, Commissioner Mutamba discloses that his office has no mandate to regulate public gatherings under Zimbabwe’s Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA) [Chapter 11:23]. Crucially, Mutamba states that the notification for the protest was misdirected to him and should instead be addressed to the JOC, effectively acknowledging that the military-led body has taken over policing responsibilities.
Ordinarily, the police are part of JOC, and members of the public accesss JOC services through the police. But the relegation of responsibility to JOC as if the police are no longer of JOC is a message in itself, a sign posting by the police boss that there is now a new decision maker inside JOC.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
MOPA, enacted to govern public demonstrations and gatherings, grants regulatory powers to the police service. Yet, in this correspondence, Mutamba distances the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) from this role, subtly pointing to an extraordinary shift in the chain of command. Analysts say this is a tacit admission that the police force has been sidelined and that the JOC — traditionally a coordinating security body comprising army, intelligence, and police chiefs — is now the de facto law enforcement authority.
The Police Commissioner is communicating to the public that JOC no longer has full confidence in the police boss to conduct law enforcement.
Since taking office, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has worked to reduce JOC’s influence by centralizing power under the Presidency and parallel structures like Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ) institutions. However, this letter reveals that the balance of power has now shifted back to JOC.
Notably, Commissioner Mutamba bypassed the police’s national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, opting to issue this critical communiqué himself, using official stationery typically reserved for internal processes like criminal background checks.
FALLOUT AND NEXT STEPS
With Mutamba’s tacit retreat and Blessed Geza’s re-emergence, observers suggest the JOC has decisively reasserted control over state security from illegal institutions like FAZ. This also explains the call for the swift release of detained journalist Blessed Mhlanga after alleged intervention by Cde Geza, suggesting Mutamba no longer controls arrests or releases.
JOC is now widely seen as the figure exercising real executive authority, while President Mnangagwa appears increasingly isolated.
NO LEADERSHIP VACUUM
Despite these dramatic developments, sources stress that Zimbabwe is not without leadership. The security establishment, led by the JOC, has moved swiftly to stabilize control under the constitution.
In summary, Zimbabwe has entered an unprecedented phase where the country’s top police officer has formally deferred to military authority, confirming what many had speculated — the army, through the JOC, is now running operations in order to protect the citizens during this state of uncertainty which is the constitutional role of the Defence Forces Of Zimbabwe regarding the national and territorial sovereignty.
Section 212 regarding the Function of Defence Forces, regulates as follows stating,
“Th national security and interests and its territorial integrity and to uphold this Constitution.”
Commenting, Dr Masimba Mavaza ZANU PF and a Political analyst disputed the editorial notion saying, “Commissioner General of Police Stephen Mutamba did not relegate or upgrade the authority to allow demonstrations to JOC. A clear reading of the letter by Stephen Mutamba shows clearly that he is applying direct response policy where he is directly responding to the letter which was directly submitted to his office. In his submissions in the letter, paragraph 2, Mutamba said, “Having perused the said correspondence, and particularly, noting that the author(s) intend to ‘notify the Joint Operations Command (JOC)’ of an intended ‘peaceful demonstration countrywide,’ I am certain that it has been misdirected to my office.” Mutamba acknowledges that the letter was sent to him in error as it was addressing the JOC. All that Mutamba is saying is that he cannot override JOC and thus it will be duplicity of work to give a decision where another power will sit to decide on the response. Thus, Mutamba’s response is not saying that the army is now responsible for such requests.
Furthermore, it would have been wrong for Mutamba to give a sweeping response on behalf of JOC. Once the letter indicates an expectation of a decision from a higher power, it becomes imperative that the authors of the letter be directed to the powers that be.
In short, there is no reason to panic or to doubt the police powers and duties based on Mutamba’s response.” - ZimEye
