Notorious former head of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Law and Order Division in Harare, Crispen Makendenge, is reported to be battling mental illness after years of notoriety under the late President Robert Mugabe’s regime.
Makendenge earned infamy as one of the most ruthless enforcers of state repression, accused of torturing opposition activists and harassing independent journalists.
Under his watch, the Law and Order Section became synonymous with abductions, brutal interrogations, and intimidation, often working in close collaboration with the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).
Together, these security arms spearheaded campaigns against civil society groups, student leaders, and pro-democracy activists, using arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and beatings to silence dissent.
A recent photo of Makendenge, published by Crime Watch Zim, shows him in a state of decline, sparking heated debate on social media. Many Zimbabweans interpreted his condition as a form of karma or “ngozi” (atonement for past wrongdoing).
Among the most harrowing cases linked to Makendenge is that of opposition politician Job Sikhala, who has publicly accused him of subjecting him to electrocution and other forms of torture during interrogations. Sikhala, however, has stated he would still choose to show Makendenge “love and kindness” despite the suffering inflicted upon him.
Journalists were not spared either. Reporters who now work for independent outlets recall Makendenge’s relentless harassment, including raids, arrests, and interrogations designed to crush investigative journalism.
These actions were part of a broader state campaign to muzzle the independent press, which was viewed as a threat to Mugabe’s grip on power.
Now reportedly struggling with mental health problems, Makendenge’s plight has become a subject of public reflection.
Many Zimbabweans see it as a cautionary tale of the consequences of abusing authority and wielding state power to oppress others.
. The reactions underline an enduring national conversation about justice, accountability, and the long-term impact of cruelty on both victims and perpetrators.
While some believe Makendenge’s suffering is poetic justice, others argue that Zimbabwe still lacks a formal mechanism of transitional justice to address decades of human rights abuses committed by state security forces.
