News / National
CIOs deployed to hunt for 'sellouts' in neighbouring countries
30 Jun 2013 at 08:09hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party has reportedly deployed members of its Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) to hunt down security service deserters and political activists in some Southern African countries.
According to information given to The Zimbabwean by a source within the CIO, the operatives have been in deployment since 2009, but increased in number two months ago, when Zanu-PF started to prepare for the election.
"Most of the operatives are stationed in Harare and were deployed in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique, where MDC activism is believed to be very strong," said the senior operative.
The initial deployment was reportedly dominated by members of the military police, who were out to get army deserters believed to be responsible for releasing confidential information about past army operations.
"A lot of confidential information on the army has been printed in the private press and the bosses believe this could be the work of deserters, who keep fleeing to South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique.
"A number of them have been caught and remain in detention in various army barracks around the country, where they are still being tortured. The operation has since spread to civil society leaders and MDC activists who have kept spreading the wrong gospel on Zimbabwe."
While the "strict instructions" on army deserters is that they should be immediately arrested and sent back to Zimbabwe, the actions and movements of MDC activists and civil society leaders should be "noted down" and communicated to Harare.
"There have been no specific ways to deal with civil society leaders, other than noting their actions and movements and reporting on them. I don't know if they will be targeted for arrests when they go home but so far, none have been arrested."
About four years ago, the CIO and military police were involved in the gory renditions operation that saw them arrest, torture, illegally repatriate, detain and even kill suspected MDC supporters. The operation was allegedly done with the assistance of South African authorities, who have, however, denied any involvement.
According to information given to The Zimbabwean by a source within the CIO, the operatives have been in deployment since 2009, but increased in number two months ago, when Zanu-PF started to prepare for the election.
"Most of the operatives are stationed in Harare and were deployed in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique, where MDC activism is believed to be very strong," said the senior operative.
The initial deployment was reportedly dominated by members of the military police, who were out to get army deserters believed to be responsible for releasing confidential information about past army operations.
"A number of them have been caught and remain in detention in various army barracks around the country, where they are still being tortured. The operation has since spread to civil society leaders and MDC activists who have kept spreading the wrong gospel on Zimbabwe."
While the "strict instructions" on army deserters is that they should be immediately arrested and sent back to Zimbabwe, the actions and movements of MDC activists and civil society leaders should be "noted down" and communicated to Harare.
"There have been no specific ways to deal with civil society leaders, other than noting their actions and movements and reporting on them. I don't know if they will be targeted for arrests when they go home but so far, none have been arrested."
About four years ago, the CIO and military police were involved in the gory renditions operation that saw them arrest, torture, illegally repatriate, detain and even kill suspected MDC supporters. The operation was allegedly done with the assistance of South African authorities, who have, however, denied any involvement.
Source - thezimbabwean
