ZimEye.com broke this story over the weekend below are fresh details.
Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday fired 17 top State security operatives believed to have facilitated the meeting between former President Robert Mugabe and opposition National People’s Party leader Joice Mujuru in Harare last week.
It is understood that the security agents were reportedly being punished for failing to reveal the intelligence of the meeting before it took place at Mugabe’s Blue Roof mansion in Borrowdale.
According to leaked Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) documents, the top government spooks were served with dismissal letters yesterday.
The letters were signed by new CIO director-general Isaac Moyo and were dated February 5. Among those fired were director of security Albert Miles Ngulube, Andrew Muzonzini (director external affairs), one Changata (assistant director security), Mugabe’s aide de camp Wonder Nyakurima (provincial intelligence officer – security), Gilbert Mudimu (Mashonaland East provincial intelligence officer [PIO]), one Chinyai (PIO for Mashonaland West), and one Rusere (division intelligence officer for Harare Central).
Also axed were Weeds Mazowe (PIO counter intelligence), Tadzingaira Tachivei (assistant director counter intelligence), Dzingai Nhira (district intelligence officer – counter intelligence) and Kizito Gweshe (deputy director counter intelligence).
The dismissals of the spies followed a similar wholesale crackdown on the Zimbabwe Republic Police three weeks ago that saw Mnangagwa reversing some of the sackings.
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga is in charge of the Defence, Security and War Veterans portfolio.
Well-placed sources within the intelligence yesterday told NewsDay that only four – Ngulube, Muzonzini, Changata and Nyakurima – of the 17 spies were above 55 years, meaning the rest were not yet due for retirement.
“Chiwenga wants to decimate the current CIO since he believes Mugabe and (former CIO boss Happyton) Bonyongwe still have control of serving officers. While only 17 senior officers have been fired now, the total targeted is 300 and Chiwenga intends to replace them with military intelligence officers,” the sources said.
Muzonzini, Changata and Ngulube were reportedly accused of helping former Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo and former Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere to flee the country during the November military operation that led to Mugabe’s ouster.
This, the source said, was despite reports that Moyo and Kasukuwere’s escapewas negotiated by former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda when the CIO had already been ordered to surrender their operations to the military.
The source added: “The 55-year retirement age cut-off point is not supported by any legislation. It was just an idea that was proffered as part of recommendations to rationalise the civil service, but was never introduced into any statute guiding employment in the civil service.”
The sources said Charles Hwekwete, a former soldier, was reportedly heading a committee appointed by the new CIO director-general to look into the capture of the CIO by Mugabe and the G40 faction.
Hwekwete is former principal staff officer in Chiwenga’s office at the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and was earmarked for promotion to the position of CIO deputy director-general.
Repeated efforts to seek comment from Presidential spokesperson George Charamba were futile as he was not picking calls yesterday. Newsday
Democratic reforms???kkkkk Then we certainly use different dictionaries for describing that.
I cant get Mujuru and advisers ethos–women are trending powerful positions in ED administration iwe pfocho kumhanyidzana with a senile out-of-power despot–prehistoric A WAS CREATURE–It is quite inconceivable that you are a real doctorate holder–impossible–what you are Mujuru is an embarrassment to all women and Im sure to who-ever is sponsoring you and that sponsorship will run dry sooner than you can imagine–if you are capable of imagination–another inconceivable prospect!!
Its official–you are exactly ten years behind normal time–and thinking–and nobody but your wishful thinking is spending time worrying about the toothless G40–all progressive minds are noting the dramatic reforms taking place–which you dont recognise bcz in the first place you dont know what they look like–thats mostly bcz you are on the wrong side of a time warp!!
The decisive move to end the factional war in Zanu PF was the 15 November 2017 coup, but anyone who thinks the fighting is over is a fool. G40 members are still out there in large numbers and they intend to fight back, if not to regain power then to make it as difficult as they can for Lacoste to govern the country.
Lacoste members for their part will be spending a lot of time and energy hunting G40 members in every bush, house and everyone – their failure to deliver any meaningful economic recovery will only make them paranoid.
The 15 November 2017 coup did not bring about any change to the nation, all this talk of a new dispensation is just wishful thinking. Zanu PF is still a party of corrupt, vote rigging and murderous thugs. Indeed those responsible for the corruption, vote rigging and murders are still in government today or be it with new job discriptions.
If the people of Zimbabwe are serious about getting out of the hell-hole Mugabe and his Zanu PF thugs landed the nation in, then they must demand the implementation of all the democratic reforms agree in the 2008 Global Political Agreement Mugabe signed with SADC leaders.