News / National
Mnangagwa rejects dubious CIOs
07 Aug 2015 at 12:32hrs | Views
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has rejected a number of close security aides (CSA) and senior security aides (SSA) from the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) deployed to him and his office, it has emerged.
Intelligence sources this week said Mnangagwa - now widely seen as President Robert Mugabe's most likely successor - and his allies rejected wholesale most of the security aides deployed to the vice-president, questioning why officers who previously provided protection to Mujuru and ministers associated with her were being seconded to him.
They also asked why intelligence officers with dubious records were sent to surround him.
"It's true that Mnangagwa has rejected a number of close security aides and senior security officers deployed to him," a senior CIO boss.
"Although he did not give clear reasons, it has now emerged that it was because he linked most of them to Mujuru and believed the deployments were politically-motivated to spy on him and possibly launch sting operations to ruin his succession prospects.
"What makes it worse is that Mnangagwa and his allies don't want CIO Director-General retired Major-General Happyton Bonyongwe and most of his senior directors for political reasons as they believe they are Mujuru's loyalists."
Sources said Mnangagwa questioned why security personnel who come from Mujuru's strongholds of Mashonaland Central, which is also her home province, and Mashonaland East were mainly seconded to him ahead of those from other regions, including officers from his home area of the Midlands, suggesting divisions along regional and ethnic lines which have always characterised Zanu-PF's succession-fuelled internal strife.
Intelligence sources say although divisions linked to Zanu-PF's succession politics have existed for many years, the dramatic entry of First Lady Grace Mugabe into politics ahead of the party's congress in December and the resultant purges of senior officials linked to Mujuru widened cracks and fuelled suspicions in the security establishment.
Intelligence sources this week said Mnangagwa - now widely seen as President Robert Mugabe's most likely successor - and his allies rejected wholesale most of the security aides deployed to the vice-president, questioning why officers who previously provided protection to Mujuru and ministers associated with her were being seconded to him.
They also asked why intelligence officers with dubious records were sent to surround him.
"It's true that Mnangagwa has rejected a number of close security aides and senior security officers deployed to him," a senior CIO boss.
"What makes it worse is that Mnangagwa and his allies don't want CIO Director-General retired Major-General Happyton Bonyongwe and most of his senior directors for political reasons as they believe they are Mujuru's loyalists."
Sources said Mnangagwa questioned why security personnel who come from Mujuru's strongholds of Mashonaland Central, which is also her home province, and Mashonaland East were mainly seconded to him ahead of those from other regions, including officers from his home area of the Midlands, suggesting divisions along regional and ethnic lines which have always characterised Zanu-PF's succession-fuelled internal strife.
Intelligence sources say although divisions linked to Zanu-PF's succession politics have existed for many years, the dramatic entry of First Lady Grace Mugabe into politics ahead of the party's congress in December and the resultant purges of senior officials linked to Mujuru widened cracks and fuelled suspicions in the security establishment.
Source - Zimbabwe Independent
