Elliot Takawira, number 454 on the list as a ‘Deputy Intelligence Officer’, hit the headlines in January this year. Alongside politicians and senior army personnel known as the 'Masvingo Initiative', he grabbed shareholding in private conservancies in the Save Valley.
Takawira, Tongai Muzenda, son of the late Vice President Simon Muzenda, Raymond Musimbwa and Grey Mushava grabbed Mokore Safari Ranch.
According to a report on the Zimbabwe Reporter website, the so-called ‘Masvingo Initiative’ led by the Masvingo Province Governor Titus Maluleke threatened to drive all the game to Gonarezhou Park and "barbecue what is left over."
The group made it clear they wanted to be partners in the ventures without paying for the shares. It did not matter to them that some of the ranches were covered by bilateral investment protection agreements with countries like Germany and others.
Number 392 on the list last week was a “Deputy Intelligence Officer’ called Zenzo Ntuliki. SW Radio Africa has since been inundated with e-mails from people describing what a ‘terror mastermind’ he was in Gwanda. One listener said he was nicknamed ‘Mapekapeka’ because he was fond of stabbing people. Another listener sent an e-mail saying:
“When that guy (Ntuliki) was an Intelligence Officer based in Gwanda town he was a terror. He practically wrote the book on instilling fear in villagers. He was best mates with another cattle rustler called Mbonisi based in Stanmore business centre along Beitbridge road. The ‘rustler guy’ has a butchery there and Zenzo was providing him immunity from prosecution.”
Cruel & heartless
The listener went on to say: “Ask the cops at Gwanda. Zenzo is one of the most cruel and heartless people you are ever going to meet. But am happy, rather sad that he has been transferred to Gweru, I think. I feel sorry for the Gweru folks. Please publish all the details and home addresses of these criminals,” the listener added.
At number 361 last week was Elisha Muzonzini then the Director General of the CIO. Muzonzini a retired Brigadier-General served the state security agency for four years, before factional fighting within Zanu (PF) saw him being abruptly demoted in 2002 and posted to Kenya as Zimbabwe’s ambassador.
It was then reported that competing Zanu (PF) camps wanted to have their own person at the helm of the CIO. Retired army general Solomon Mujuru, who leads a faction competing against Emmerson Mnangagwa for influence, is reported to have been the one who recommended Muzonzini to the CIO job.
The replacing of Muzonzini with the current Director General Happton Bonyongwe was seen in some circles as an attempt to dilute Mujuru’s influence.
Muzonzini decided to retire from his diplomatic posting and concentrate on full time farming at a farm he grabbed from its former white owners using an AK47 assault rifle. It is widely believed that under Muzonzini the CIO virtually became an appendage of Zanu (PF).
Diplomatic service
Many agents on the list have been found to be operative in the diplomatic service. Number 400 is Musafare Nyamudahondo who is described as a ‘Deputy Intelligence Officer’ in 2001. Around May 1999 he was part of Zimbabwe’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. The latest line up of mission staff on the UN website suggests Nyamudahondo has been moved elsewhere.
Michael Nyere, another ‘Deputy Intelligence Officer’ at number 412 on the list is currently the Minister Counsellor, at the Zimbabwe Embassy in Rome, Italy. SW Radio Africa understands he is the third highest ranked member of the diplomatic staff there.
‘Deputy Intelligence Officer’ Siegfried Temba Samkange at number 431 has previously served at the Zimbabwean embassy in the United States as a ‘Political Counsellor’.
Zvidzai Tahwa at number 452 is another state security operative deployed at the Zimbabwean embassy in Tanzania. In October 2004 he was listed by the Ministry of Finance in Tanzania as having benefited from import tax exemptions after bringing in an Isuzu Wizard truck worth about 8,556,503 Tanzanian Shillings. – SW Radio Africa
We have now published the entire document dated 2001 containing the list of state security agents working at that time. Some may have retired or passed away, but evidence has shown many are still serving. Although the document contains their home addresses, some ID numbers, and telephone numbers we have not published these details. We encourage readers to continue to provide feedback concerning anything they may know about these agents. Email: editor@thezimbabwean.co.uk – Editor
Post published in: Politics