Mnangagwa Fires 17 Top CIOs Over Mugabe And Mujuru's Meeting

Yesterday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa fired 17 top State security operatives for failing to provide intelligence of the meeting between former President Robert Mugabe and opposition National People’s Party leader Joice Mujuru in Harare last week.

According to leaked Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) documents, the top government spies were served with dismissal letters dated 5 February and signed by new CIO director-general Isaac Moyo. Sources told NewsDay that only four of the 17 that were dismissed yesterday were above 55 years, meaning the rest were not yet due for retirement. Sources said that Defense Minister Retired General Constantino Chiwenga wants to dismiss 300 and replace them with military intelligence officers.

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). 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) were also dismissed. 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.