HARARE – Former Central Intelligence Organisation deputy director general Walter Tapfumaneyi, cited by rights groups for election interference in 2023, has been appointed chief of staff in the Zimbabwe national army by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Tapfumaneyi left his CIO role in March and had been “parked at his farm in Banket” awaiting confirmation, which finally arrived on Wednesday this week, a source familiar with the developments told ZimLive.
Tapfumaneyi retired from the military as a brigadier general, and has now been promoted to the rank of major general, a role previously occupied by Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu, the new army commander.
Mnangagwa is reportedly keen to eventually promote Tapfumaneyi to the role of army commander when Matatu steps down, it is expected before 2027.
With the military a key player in Zanu PF’s succession matrix, especially after a 2017 coup that ousted longtime leader Robert Mugabe, Tapfumaneyi’s promotion will add to the intrigue.
As the second top ranking spy chief, Tapfumaneyi was accused by opposition parties and rights groups of deploying agents to intimidate voters outside polling stations in the August 2023 elections, working with the Forever Association of Zimbabwe (FAZ).
Tapfumaneyi was placed on United States sanctions for “leading the campaign to disrupt the 2023 electoral process through his leadership of ruling party-affiliated groups.”
“He is also alleged to have been personally involved in past kidnappings,” the US department of the treasury said in March 2024.
Mnangagwa has also okayed changes in the CIO hierarchy, with Cephas Hodzi replacing Tapfumaneyi as the deputy director general in charge of operations.
Paul Chikawa assumes the role of director general external while Benadate Mandongwe is the new deputy director general in charge of the CIO’s administration.
