harare24dmin When Isaac Moyo took over the reigns at CIO he faced the unenviable task of stabilising a fragmented intelligence body struggling with several problems and challenges. Through steady leadership, Moyo restored a measure of order and laid a foundation for progress.
Having completed his chapter, he passed the baton to Fulton Mangwanya. The appointment of Fulton Mangwanya caught many by surprise. President ED Mnangagwa played a card that no one saw coming. Others had positioned themselves to replace Isaac , some had laid snares to ensure that Isaac was caught in snares and booted out to make way for them but ED being an intelligence supremo he had already seen through their moves.
Fulton Mangwanya was picked by the President for reasons known to the President and in just seven months, the results have been unmistakable. Proving yet again that President ED Mnangagwa is a master strategist and grand master of intelligence and counter intelligence.
The CIO once plagued by low morale, indiscipline, and operational blunders, is rapidly re-emerging as a disciplined and formidable regional intelligence powerhouse.
This transformation has been credited to the leadership principles embedded by President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa and the recent reforms driven by the agency’s new Director-General, Fulton Mangwanya.
Mangwanya injected discipline, direction, and renewed purpose into the CIO. While some of his changes were initially perceived as harsh, they are now bearing fruit. From fairer distribution of resources, modernisation of equipment, and increased mobility for intelligence officers, to simple but symbolic upgrades like new furniture and improved working conditions, the organisation is experiencing a morale boost not seen in years.
Intelligence thrives on discipline, loyalty, and preparedness. The President approved some strategic but painful adjustments which have now brought value, principles , loyalty and effectiveness in the men and women who serve in secret. The loyalty and high morale is now measurable through the mass exodus of staff from the organisation which has since stopped.
This renewed vibrancy is not accidental. Political and security Analyst John Mbizvo said “This new vibrancy points to a leadership formula combining President Mnangagwa’s deep understanding of intelligence operations — having engineered the CIO’s foundations decades ago — with the hands-on oversight of Lovemore Matuke and the reformist energy of Mangwanya. Together, the trio is fashioning a cutting-edge agency aligned with both national security demands and modern intelligence standards.”
President Mnangagwa, often described as the godfather of Zimbabwean intelligence, is said to be quietly proud of the progress. His long-term vision for a disciplined, professional, and technologically capable CIO is finally materialising, making the organisation once again a dominant player in the regional intelligence community.
From a battered institution riddled with internal disorder to a disciplined outfit regaining its edge, the CIO’s turnaround story is being written in real time. And with the reforms currently underway, many believe the organisation is set to achieve a golden era under the principles Mnangagwa laid down and the bold execution spearheaded by Mangwanya.
The organisation still has some challenges and problems which need to be addressed but the progress is real , tangible and the breathe of fresh air is being felt even by the citizens as they enjoy increased security. Some will still try and throw spanners and derail progress but that is the beauty of Zimbabwe the barking dogs won’t stop the elephant from moving forward.
