CIO hunts deserters in SADC

According to information given to The Zimbabwean by a source within the CIO, the operatives have been in deployment since 2009, but increased in number two months ago, when Zanu (PF) entered “full swing into election mode”.

“Most of the operatives are stationed in Harare and were deployed in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique, where MDC activism is believed to be very strong,” said the senior operative.

The initial deployment was reportedly dominated by members of the military police, who were out to get army deserters believed to be responsible for releasing confidential information on past army operations.

“A lot of confidential information on the army has been printed in the private press and the bosses believe this could be the work of deserters, who keep fleeing in their numbers and going largely to South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique.

“A number of them have been caught and remain in detention in various army barracks around the country, where they are still being tortured, but the operation has since been spread to civil society leaders and MDC activists that have kept spreading the wrong gospel on Zimbabwe,” he said.

While the “strict instructions” on army deserters is that they should be immediately arrested and sent back to Zimbabwe, the actions and movements of MDC activists and civil society leaders should be “noted down” and communicated to Harare.

“There have been no specific ways to deal with civil society leaders, other than note their actions and movements and report on them. I don’t know if they will be targeted for arrests when they go back home to monitor elections, but so far, none have been arrested or put up for that from the operation.”

About four years ago, the CIO and military police were involved in a gory renditions operation that saw them arrest, torture, illegally repatriate, detain and even kill suspected MDC supporters, said to have numbered hundreds.

The operation was allegedly done with the assistance of South African authorities, who have previously denied any involvement.