Bonyongwe is one of President Robert Mugabe's service chiefs who vowed
before last year's general elections that they would never salute
Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai if he wins the
presidential elections.
The service chiefs, among them, defence forces commander Constantine
Chiwenga, prisons commissioner Paradzai Zimondi and police commissioner
general Augustine Chihuri snubbed the swearing in of Tsvangirai as
Prime Minister in the inclusive government last week.
Sources in the CIO said Bonyongwe told senior operatives from around
the country who met at the headquarters of Mugabe's ZANU PF party in
Harare that the unity government was now a reality and they should
embrace it.
The secret service meeting was to appraise senior spies on the "state
of affairs" in the new government and review operations of the CIO.
"Bonyongwe said the CIO should work for the success of the inclusive
government," a senior member of the organisation who attended the
closed-door meeting said. "He emphasised the need to transform the
organisation into a professional force whose work is about enhancing
national security rather than fighting opposition parties."
According to sources, Bonyongwe said he had been assured by Mugabe that
the inclusive government would not embark on a witch hunt to flash out
operatives who were involved in political violence against the
opposition during last year's bloody presidential election run-off
between Mugabe and Tsvangirai.
CIO operatives, police, army, war veterans and ZANU PF militia embarked
on a violent campaign during the run-off that resulted in the death of
about 200 MDC supporters, plus 10 000 injured and displacement of over
25 000 families.
The violence prompted Tsvangirai to withdrew from the race, but the
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission went ahead with the run-off saying the
MDC leader's pull out had no legal effect.
Mugabe won the one-man race by over 80 percent, but nevertheless he was
forced by regional SADC alliance and the African Union to open talks
with Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutamabara, who heads the smaller formation
of the MDC, to form a government of national unity.
"Bonyongwe also told us that our working conditions would be improved
tremendously and challenged everyone to pull in one direction for the
success of the new government," the source added.
The CIO boss, the sources said, told them elections would be held
within the five years and the state spies should support whoever will
emerge the winner. – ZimOnline.
Post published in: News