CIO has kept me in power: Mugabe

Source: CIO has kept me in power: Mugabe – DailyNews Live

Mugove Tafirenyika      30 April 2017

HARARE – Amid the ugly tribal, factional and succession wars tearing the
ruling Zanu PF apart, President Robert Mugabe has lavished praise on the
country’s feared intelligence services for helping him to maintain his
long hold on power.

The nonagenarian chose the burial of one of the top bosses of the Central
Intelligence Organisation (CIO), Zenzo Ntuliki, in Harare yesterday to
remind Zimbabweans about the key role that spooks have played in the
country’s body politic.

“Isu zvatiri pano hatingomhanyemhanye tichingodauka dauka zvisiri mugwara
rinoonekwa nevaongorori vedu, nyanzvi dzedu dzine maziso, nzeve neruzivo
rwekuti apa pakaipa, apa pane nyoka … musafambe nepo pane nyoka
mungarumwe (I always make my moves with advice from the CIO which warns me
about my enemies),” Mugabe told mourners gathered at the National Heroes
Acre in Harare.

“Saka tinopihwa nyanzvi dzine maziso anooona zviri kure kure nenzeve
dzinonzwa zvinonyeyewa. Ndiko kurarama kwedu (The intelligence operatives
who work with me are top drawer spooks who can sniff out any threats well
ahead),” he added.

Listed under the President’s Office, the CIO has previously been accused
of perpetuating Mugabe’s long rule through thuggish methods, as well as
destabilising the opposition.

Apart from being accused of abetting and aiding Mugabe and Zanu PF, the
agency has also been fingered in gross human rights violations, especially
against Mugabe’s perceived political opponents.

“The fact that he (Zenzo) is being laid here is a demonstration that he
was a comrade, a comrade at arms.

“Self sacrifice was one of Ntuliki’s strongest attributes … sacrifice
did not mean just going out and joining the other comrade. It meant that
at heart, in your own mind as a comrade you were truly decided, come what
may to fight for the country,” Mugabe said.

Ntuliki, who was in charge of the CIO in the Western region at the time of
his death, once served as the late former Vice President Joshua Nkomo’s
aide.

Mugabe described him as a dedicated cadre who was unwavering in his desire
to ensure the country’s security from both internal and external enemies.

“We must be united and help each other and that is what Ntuliki fought
for. Those who lie here and others who are still in our security services,
they are the defenders of our lives, defenders of the joy we have to be
defended against disturbers of that joy.

“That is what we call defence forces … the uniforms they put on are not
just for decoration. Have you ever asked why they put on that uniform?
They will tell you it’s not meant to beautify them,” he added.

Mugabe, the only leader that Zimbabweans have ever known since the country
gained its independence from Britain in 1980, is facing the biggest threat
to his long rule as the economy continues to tank.

The nonagenarian, apart from having to contend with increasing unrest
among the long-suffering populace and the dying economy, is also
struggling to keep together his deeply-divided ruling Zanu PF.

The party’s deadly ructions have escalated in recent weeks, with observers
saying Mugabe’s failure to resolve Zanu PF’s thorny succession riddle is
fuelling the infighting.

The 93-year-old has studiously refused to name a successor, insisting that
the party’s congress has that mandate; to choose a person of their own
choice.