Rwandese-congolese ‘double agent’ arrested in Zim

ZIMBABWEAN authorities have arrested a suspected Rwandese-congolese national, who is alleged to be an intelligence operative for the two African states. He is detained at the Harare Remand Prison.

Thofa Alfonso Nzanzi, suspected to be a “double intelligence agent”, was arrested last month, according to sources familiar with the developments.

It was not clear why he ended up in Zimbabwean authorities’ cross hairs, as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said it was not aware of the arrest.

Paul Nyathi, the ZRP’S national spokesperson, referred questions to the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS).

Meya Khanyezi, national public relations officer at ZPCS, confirmed Nzanzi was at Harare Remand Prison, but noted that until she received consent from him, she had no authority to discuss his circumstances with the Zimbabwe Independent.

She warned that publication of his arrest would expose vital information about his whereabouts to people who may be hunting for him.

“I sent a consent form to him and he has not yet replied. What happens with inmates is that they have rights. What we do is we actually inform the inmate that there is a reporter who wants to do a story. It is up to the inmate to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. I am still waiting for the consent form to be signed,” Khanyezi said, emphasising the need to ensure his safety.

A double agent is an employee of a secret intelligence service of one country, whose role is to spy on a target organisation in another country, but who ends up spying on their own country’s organisation.

Nzanzi has been in remand custody for more than a month without a charge, according to sources.

There have been major improvements in diplomatic relations between Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

In May last year, the Independent reported that a nearly three-decade-long hunt for one of the world’s most wanted Rwandan genocide fugitives, Protais Mpiranya ended after his grave was located at Granville Cemetery in Harare.

Mpiranya, a former commander of the presidential guard of the Rwandan army, had been on the run for almost 30 years, charged with war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

An extensive investigation was launched to ascertain the authenticity of reports of Mpiranya’s death some 10 years ago.

The Independent exclusively wrote that Mpiranya’s body was found laid under a grave bearing a false name, Sambao Ndume, after a team of United Nations investigators tracked him to Granville Cemetery.

Reports further said his body was exhumed around April last year and with the help of DNA analysis by a pathologist from The Netherlands, the remains were confirmed to be his.