Zimbabwean intelligence on full-swing to get Charlton Hwende in Namibia.Photo:Twitter. Charlton Hwende is a Zimbabwean politician who ...
In 2013 he contested the Chegutu West for MP seat on MDC-T ticket, he lost to Zanu-PF. In July 2016, he was criticized heavily on social media for what was referred to as reckless statements discouraging Zimbabweans from participating in a two day stay away organized by Pastor Evan Mawarire of the ThisFlag movement. He contested politically in the July 2018 elections as part of the MDC Alliance. He won a Parliament membership for Kuwadzana East.
As Zimbabwean police we are keen to interview 27 suspects in connection with rampant looting, incitement on social media and destruction of property, which occurred between January 14 and 16 this year. Anyone with information on their whereabouts should contact any nearest police station.
Reports in Namibia allege that Chalton Hwende approached the Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Sebastian Ndeitunga seeking asylum. Hwende is on the police wanted list in connection with the #Shutdown protests. In a report in the New Era newspaper, Hwende`s lawyer Norman Tjombe wrote to the Namibian police chief requesting protection “against unlawful abduction and the possible rendition to Zimbabwe at the hands of Central Intelligence Organisation”. Tjombe claimed his client was in the country to visit relatives although there are fears he might be arrested if he returns to Zimbabwe. Part of his letter reads:
Should our client not be afforded the necessary protection, our client will not hesitate to approach the High Court of Namibia on an urgent basis for appropriate order, including an interdict. In the course of January 2019, our client was informed, through reliable sources, that members of the Zimbabwean intelligence agency, namely the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), travelled to Namibia to abduct and rendition him (Hwende) to Zimbabwe where he is apparently wanted for treason, incitement to commit public violence and other charges. According to the information, the CIO's agents are already arrived in Namibia on or before 28 January 2019.
Central Intelligence Organisation
Zimbabwean Central Intelligence Organisation in shortly known as the CIO is the most feared organization in Zimbabwe even aboard, if you approaching any Zimbabwean in diaspora no one want to discuss about Zimbabwean intelligence for believing that everywhere you go, it could deploy already some eavesdrops or hacked the smartphones you carry for listening communication at nearby. The Zimbabwe intelligence and its line of work is inherently remained classified. For a very long time the organisation and its operations have ignited public debate and fueled many speculation as well as political conspiracy
Structure of Organisation
Isaac Moyo is the head of the CIO and is referred to as a director general. The intelligence organisation consists of nine key branches which include internal, external, counter-intelligence, military intelligence, training, close security unit, technical, administration and another simply known as branch six. The other directors who come immediately after Moyo head these other branches. The directors are duty bound to report directly to the President thereby effectively bypassing the minister of defence. Immediately under the directors are deputy directors, assistant directors, provincial intelligence officers, district intelligence officers, senior intelligence officers, assistant senior intelligence officers and ordinary-level intelligence officers.
Functions
The function of the organisation is to provide high level security to the state from threats both within and outside Zimbabwe. The organisation also offers high level security to high raking government officials like the President, various government employees like ministers and diplomats working in and outside Zimbabwe. Regionally the organisation works with other Intelligence organisations from other African countries under a regional body called Central Intelligence and Security Services of Africa CISSA to tackle problems that threaten the stability of the continent and hamper development like terrorism and extremism.
Alleged Human Rights Abuses
There have been numerous reports of gross human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by the organisation which range from unlawful abductions, torturing of civilians at undisclosed locations among others. Some of the specific incidents in which the Intelligence organisation was fingered include the attack on Nelson Chamisa at the Harare International Airport, the brief disappearance of former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation News host Jestina Mukoko and the abductions of Zimbabweans living in South Africa. These are some allegations that have been levelled against the organisation in the media. There were also unconfirmed reports linking the Central Intelligence Organisation to the looting of Diamonds at the Marange Diamond fields among other malpractices.
Recruitment
Applying for a job in the organisation is not done in public and nobody have a knowledge where and what are the requirement to join the CIO. In fact people knew the procedures like when applying in other arms of the Zimbabwe security sector such as Zimbabwe National Army or the Zimbabwe Republic Police. It has been speculated that they recruit people who have preexisting links and insider ties. For one to be considered it is a very long process in which the one being recruited is researched, vetted and verified their suitability to such a job.
There have reports linking the organisation with Bindura University of Science Education in which the organisation was said to be covertly targeting University graduates for their possible recruitment sessions, Matabeleland is also one of the alleged areas in which the recruitment sessions are said to have taken place in recent years.