Mugabe to replace CIO boss

                                                              

                                              Posted in News Updates on 20th February, 2008

                                                                      By Tawanda Gava

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe plans to axe Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) director-general Happyton Bonyongwe, who has been linked to the Simba Makoni grouping, and replace him with CIO director Elias Kanengoni.

Reliable sources within the CIO revealed that Kanengoni is tipped to takeover either on the eve of the election or soon after the March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections as behind-the-scenes jockeying for power intensifies.

However Bonyongwe is reportedly planning to resign after discovering that he was the subject of investigations by CIO operatives headed by Kanengoni.

Bonyongwe's close relationship with retired general Solomon Mujuru who is alleged to be Makoni's chief backer prompted the investigation. Minister of State Security Didymus Mutasa is said to be backing the move. 

 "A dossier on Bonyongwe was complied before Makoni and Mugabe met in early January. The investigations continued after Makoni announced his intentions to run and certainly, in almost all cases, the role played by Mujuru and Bonyongwe in Makoni's campaign cannot be ignored," said one CIO source.

Bonyongwe replaced retired brigadier Elisha Muzonzini – another Mujuru blue-eyed boy retired by Mugabe some years ago – amidst much uncertainty in which many names were thrown into the ring as Muzonzini's successor.
 

 However Bonyongwe, who is a retired brigadier-general and served as Muzonzini's number two, won the post after Mujuru intervened. Kanengoni is also expected to catapult Bonyongwe's number two and deputy director general, Mernard Muzariri, who is also expected to be pushed out also. 

  Kanengoni was involved in the 1990 shooting and wounding of Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM) national organizing secretary Patrick Kombayi. He was convicted by the High Court, together with one Zanu PF Youth League member, Kizito Chivamba and sentenced to seven years in prison with hard labour.
  

However, both Kanengoni and Chivamba did not spend a single minute behind bars as they were immediately pardoned by Mugabe using the Presidential Powers of Clemency.

  Chivamba has secured the ruling party's nomination to represent Zanu PF in Chiwundura constituency in the House of Assembly elections that are to be held soon. Mugabe is re-organizing his security institutions and Bonyongwe will not be the only victim. 
 

Airforce chief sidelined

 

Airforce of Zimbabwe Marshall Perence Shiri has also been fingered as a Makoni associate and his contract was not renewed on January 30, 2008 when Mugabe renewed the contracts of most service chiefs prompting speculation that he is on his way out.

  Mugabe renewed the contracts of Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander General Constantine Guveya Chiwenga and Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Lieutenant-General Phillip Valerio Sibanda. Their contracts will run until December 31, 2011.   He also appointed Augustine Chihuri as Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner-General.

  However both Chiwenga and Sibanda have been rendered powerless after Mugabe centralized power further by streamlining the army's reporting structure. Brigadier-generals now report directly to Mugabe instead of through Sibanda who then reports to Chiwenga who finally reports to Mugabe. 

  Efforts to contact Bonyongwe were fruitless as he was said to be out of the office by a man who identified himself as his personal aide. Mutasa refused to comment.
 

 "You always want to vilify the Zanu PF government. National security matters are private otherwise they would not be national security," Mutasa said before switching off his phone.

  No one would comment at Hardwick House, CIO's headquarters, while presidential spokesperson George Charamba said he would not comment.

  "I certainly haven't heard that and I don't believe it because Makoni is
inconsequential. You should also remember that those decisions are the prerogative of President Mugabe as head of state. If he does make that decision, everyone will know," said Charamba.