HARARE – The Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) has purchased Old Mutual House, an eight-storey building situated at the corner of Speke Avenue and Sam Nujoma Street in central Harare. This acquisition, confirmed by sources speaking to The NewsHawks, raises questions about the agency’s expanding property portfolio and the lack of transparency surrounding its financial dealings.
The building, previously occupied by Harare City Council’s water department, was purchased for an undisclosed sum. Currently, renovations are underway, but only on the third floor, which the CIO intends to occupy. The intended use of the remaining seven floors remains shrouded in secrecy. “They are just renovating the third floor and no notice of vacation for Harare council water department has been given,” a source revealed to The NewsHawks.
Speculation is rife regarding the potential allocation of office space within the new building. Sources suggest that Forever Associates Zimbabwe (Faz), a shadowy organisation closely linked to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s re-election campaign, may be granted space. Faz, led by CIO deputy director-general Walter Tapfumanei, has been implicated in various controversial activities. However, Faz president Kudakwashe Munsaka denied these claims, stating, “Faz already has offices, and our headquarters have always been located at 224 Avon Mews in Avondale. We do not currently have any plans to relocate.”
This latest acquisition adds another layer to the already complex picture of the CIO’s financial dealings. The agency’s budget is not subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor-General, meaning its expenditure is largely unaccountable to the public. This lack of transparency has fuelled concerns about potential misuse of funds and a lack of oversight.
Previous investigations by The NewsHawks have exposed the CIO’s involvement in various commercial ventures. One notable example is Impala Car Rental, a thriving car hire company with significant presence in the tourism sector. Documents obtained during a previous investigation revealed that Impala, registered as Impala Carriers (Pvt) Ltd, is owned by Chilten Trust, a CIO entity. This link was established through the late company chief executive Thompson Dondo, who represented Chilten Trust in Impala’s registration documents. Although Impala’s registration documents were subsequently removed from the company registry, The NewsHawks painstakingly reconstructed the record, uncovering a secret agreement between Dondo and the CIO regarding the business’s ownership. Chilten Trust, the investigation revealed, serves as a vehicle for the CIO’s administrative, operational, and investment activities. This revelation came to light during the investigation into the abduction and torture of then-journalism student Tawanda Muchehiwa, where Impala was implicated.
The CIO, established in 1963 as the external intelligence-gathering arm of the British South Africa Police Special Branch, plays a crucial role in national security. Its responsibilities include providing high-level security to the state, protecting high-ranking officials (including the President), and collaborating with other African intelligence agencies through the Central Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (Cissa) to combat threats to continental stability.
However, the CIO’s influence extends beyond its official mandate. It is widely perceived as a powerful force behind President Mnangagwa, despite claims that the national army holds similar influence. Reports suggest that during the 2017 coup, the CIO, along with the Air Force of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, mobilised a counter-force, only to be ordered to stand down by then-President Robert Mugabe to prevent a full-blown civil war.
