Mnangagwa Appoints New CIO Director

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority director Dr Fulton Mangwanya as the new Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) Director-General, replacing his close ally Isaac Moyo.

Mangwanya, who studied land and conservation issues, had been CIO since 1988 before taking charge of ZimParks in 2015.

A passionate conservationist with intelligence and security background, Mangwanya, who also has a farming experience, ran ZimParks for nine years until his appointment as CIO boss today.

Moyo’s removal has been long coming after his reported fallout with Mnangagwa over political issues before the 2023 general elections.

Mnangagwa entrusted the running of the controversial 2023 elections to CIO co-deputy Director-General retired Brigadier Walter Tapfumaneyi and his intelligence-run Forever Associate Zimbabwe, a civic group used as a CIO front for dirty jobs, and Moyo, or the military as usual.

Moyo, appointed CIO head in 2017 following the military coup which ousted the late former president Robert Mugabe, is close to Mnangagwa, but their political ties had deteriorated over the years due to trust and confidence deficit, according to intelligence sources who predicted his removal months way back.

Chief Secretary Martin Rushwaya said in a statement:

“In terms of Section 226(1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, His Excellency the President, Cde. Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has appointed Dr.Fulton Mangwanya as the Director General, President’s Department.The appointment is with immediate effect.”