Cabinet minister and other top government officials are reportedly being trailed and closely monitored by state security agents from the Central Intelligence Organisation and Military Intelligence. This comes as the battle to succeed President Robert Mugabe has heated up between the Team Lacoste Faction and G40 Faction. Some ministers believe that their phones, as well as their homes, have been compromised as they have been bugged, with the data collected being used for factional agendas. Commander of the Defence Forces General Constantino Chiwenga is believed to be part of Team Lacoste Faction
A cabinet minister who spoke to weekly publication, the Independent said:
You are no longer free to have a conversation on your phone because every conversation is listened to. You are not free to have a conversation in your car or office because they are bugged. Even our homes are bugged.
We have become slaves to the system because you are forced to think about whom you meet, where to meet and what you say, even in private conversations.
The purpose is basically to have knowledge of who you are meeting or talking to and what you are talking about, especially over the succession issue. I have no doubt that some of the spying is at the instigation of the factions, because there are some security agents doing work for certain factions,” the minister said.
This has been happening for some time, but it has been growing as the succession fights intensify.
The military intelligence’s role has been increasing over the years. I can tell you they played an important spying role on former vice-president Joice Mujuru, which eventually led to her ouster.
More: Independent