HARARE, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed a new police chief following the retirement of former Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri last December.

In a statement published by The Herald on Tuesday, Public Service Commission chairperson Mariyawanda Nzuwah said the appointment of Tandabantu Godwin Matanga as the new commissioner-general of the Zimbabwe Republic Police was with immediate effect.

Prior to the latest appointment, the 56-year-old Matanga was one of four deputy commissioner-generals in the police.

A veteran of the country's war for independence, Matanga joined the police in 1982 as a patrol officer and rose through the ranks to become deputy commissioner-general.

He became acting commissioner-general following Chihuri's retirement.

Matanga takes over at a time when the police is trying to polish its image following allegations of corruption within its rank and file.