HARARE — President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday dismissed Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) director general Fulton Mangwanya, with no explanation given for the abrupt removal.
Chief cabinet secretary Martin Rushwaya announced that Paul Chikawa, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Cuba, has been appointed as the new spy chief “with immediate effect.”
Rushwaya’s statement made no reference to Mangwanya.
Mangwanya was appointed CIO director general in January 2025, having previously served as director general of the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks).
His dismissal comes amid a probe by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) into a US$6.8 million construction project linked to the CIO.
Investigators have conducted raids at the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), Terrestrial Holdings — the CIO’s investment arm — and at least two financial services companies.
NSSA released US$4.5 million for the Belgravia double story commercial building through Stanbic Bank into the account of Chigama Architectural Services and Project Management.
Investigators are examining claims that some funds were subsequently diverted to an asset management company and a money transfer firm for high-interest arrangements that allegedly benefited insiders. The project predated Mangwanya’s appointment, though some payments were made during his tenure.
In October last year, Mangwanya was reported to have been swindled more than R1.5 million by scammers posing as the gold dealer Scott Sakupwanya. The CIO later briefed that the incident was part of a covert operation to trap the scammers who were allegedly targeting high profile people.
The dismissal also comes as Mnangagwa, 83, is pushing through controversial constitutional amendments that would extend his second and final term by two years — from 2028 to 2030 — and replace the direct presidential election with a parliamentary vote.
Mnangagwa’s critics say the amendments are designed to stop vice president Constantino Chiwenga from succeeding him in the event of his death or incapacitation in office, with MPs instead voting to choose his successor – likely to come down to candidates’ financial muscle.
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