CIO probes embarrassing ‘looting law’ leak

THE Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) has launched an investigation into how the controversial decree, dubbed “looting law”, the General Notice 635 of 2023 was leaked and published in the Government Gazette before it was approved, the Zimbabwe Independent can reveal.

Its publication early this month triggered a public outcry and President Emmerson Mnangagwa cancelled it a week later, saying its gazetting was a fraud, exposing the confusion in his office.

e law gave authorities power to procure several goods and services outside the tender system, including ambulances, construction equipment and materials, biomedical and medical equipment, medicines, and drugs.

Laboratory equipment, chemicals and accessories, hospital protective equipment, and repairs and maintenance services of hospital machinery were also included on the list.

e notice was later cancelled, but after shaking the government, with intelligence chiefs questioning if the President “was safe” from such mistakes in the future.

“e spy agency is concerned about the security of the President,” a source close to the developments told the Independent.

“Circumstances around its release have been taken seriously. State security feels the President was exposed to unwarranted

public embarrassment. One CIO director (name supplied) was only notified of this document through social media. This triggered a crisis meeting,” the source added, noting that no one took responsibility.

“There is mistrust within government, considering that no one took responsibility for the gaffe, including Information Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana, who posted the document on Twitter,” the source said.

Critics said the General Notice undermined good corporate governance, especially the government’s anti-corruption stance. They said it exposed public assets to theft due to a lack of transparency and accountability.

Legal think-tank Veritas said the confusion around the general notice exposed loopholes in government systems.

“If these (correct) steps are followed; unauthorised or rogue instruments and notices should be detected and stopped before they are published in the Government Gazette,” Veritas said.

“The procedure has loopholes because the rogue procurement notice allegedly slipped undetected into the gazette.”

When asked to comment on the investigation Presidential spokesperson George Charamba retorted: “Go and sleep that is not even a story ... (Hauna nyaya),” Charamba said.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa did not respond to enquiries while Mangwana was not reachable.

Chief secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) Misheck Sibanda’s mobile was not reachable.