Top cop resigns under unclear circumstances

Senior police officer Commissioner Charles Mfandaedza resigned under unclear circumstances last month.

Police sources said the senior cop, who has been linked to several cases of corruption and other misdemeanours, tendered his resignation on September 17.

He becomes the second most senior officer to retire from the force after Commissioner Oliver Chibage who retired in December last year after being implicated in various cases of corruption.

In 2011, Comm Mfandaedza was implicated in an attempt to take over Glencairn Mine, a gold mine in Kadoma, and was sued together with six others over the issue.

In 2006, a sworn affidavit before the High Court implicated Comm Mfandaedza, who was then Officer Commanding Midlands province Assistant Commissioner, for allegedly receiving cash, meat and an assortment agricultural inputs and equipment from farmer Nicco van Rensburg of Dunlop Ranch in Kwekwe to protect his farm from settlers.

A senior police officer on Thursday confirmed that Comm Mfandaedza, who was based at the Police General Headquarters, had left the force.

But he said Comm Mfandaedza was already past retirement age which is at 50.

"There is, however, nothing amiss about the retirement of police officers as this is provided for under the Police Act," said the senior officer.

In 2008, Comm Mfandaedza was among five Senior Assistant Commissioners who were promoted and conferred by President Mugabe with the rank of Commissioner in line with Constitutional Amendment Number 18.

The other four were Senior Assistant Commissioner Josephine Shambare, now Deputy Commissioner-General, Snr Asst Comm Chibage, Snr Asst Comm Solomon Mubatapasango and Snr Asst Comm Nonkosi Ncube.

Last year, at least 19 commissioned officers left the force after reaching their retirement age and enjoying an extension of service provided for by the law.

Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri, said many such senior officers had reached retirement age, but had been using provisions of the Police Act to renew their contracts.

The police chief is empowered by the Police Act to renew officers' tenure on a yearly basis once they reach the retirement age of 50.

The extension of service for members beyond 50 years is governed by section 22 (3) and (4) of the Police Act Chapter 11:10.

Section 22 (3) states that a regular member of the force, whatever his length of pensionable service, shall retire from the regular force at midnight on the 50th anniversary of his or her birthday.

A provision in the same section empowers the Commissioner-General of Police to extend the service of the member if he considers it in the public interest and the member is medically fit.

He may extend the tenure to 55 years on yearly extensions.

Section 22 (4) states that any member who has continued to serve in terms of subsection (3) shall retire at 55 years of his anniversary.

A provision in the same section empowers the Commissioner-General of Police to extend the service of the member if he considers it in the public interest.

The extension would be 12 months at a time. In terms of the Police Act Chapter 11:10, the extension of service after 50 years is exclusively the prerogative of the Commissioner-General of Police.