Amos Midzi fingered in ‘spygate’ saga

05 Oct, 2014 - 09:10 0 Views
Amos Midzi fingered  in ‘spygate’ saga

The Sunday Mail

Zanu-PF Harare province chairman Cde Amos Midzi is among a group of additional legislators understood to have had suspicious contact with a CIA spy housed at the US Embassy in Harare.

He is the second party provincial chair to be implicated after Mashonaland West’s Cde Temba Mliswa already admitted to entertaining the US Central Intelligence Agency’s Mr Eric Little.

Among other senior figures fingered are Deputy Primary and Secondary Education Minister Paul Mavhima and Mashonaland East Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Cde Simbaneuta Mudarikwa, who have both rubbished the allegations.

The total number of MPs who sought financial assistance from the United States Embassy in Harare is nearly double that previously reported, The Sunday Mail can reveal.

At least 22 MPs allegedly passed on sensitive information related to their parties and the State during deliberations with Mr Little.

However, in many of the cases, after supplying the information to Mr Little — whose official title is second secretary for political affairs in the US Embassy — no money came their way.

Investigations this past week implicated cated Zanu-PF House of Assembly members Cdes Daniel Mackenzie Ncube (Zhombe), Joseph Mapiki (Shamva South), Tendayi Makunde (Murehwa North), Amos Midzi (Epworth), and Beatrice Nyamupinga (Goromonzi West); and Senators Cdes Enias Diamonds Mumvuri (Rushinga), Tapera Machingaifa and Byton Musaka (both Mashonaland West) have had contact with Mr Little.

Additional MDC-T MPs fingered are Mr Reggie Moyo (Luveve) and Mr Eddie Cross (Bulawayo South).
Zanu-PF lawmakers are said to have met the spy at Parliament, hotels and restaurants, while MDC-T MPs usually visit the US Embassy in Harare.

Yesterday, Cde Midzi said he never personally met Mr Little though US Embassy officials had contacted him.

“The embassy called me and they said they wanted to assist in social programmes in a number of constituencies and I advised them that if you want to talk about that, go through the Foreign Affairs Ministry — that is the procedure. I also reminded them that I was on the United States sanctions list and it ended there,” he said.

Cde Makunde remained silent when asked to comment, breathing heavily into the phone for a few seconds before switching it off.
However, sources in his constituency said the lawmaker recently toured the area with Mr Little.

“He (Cde Makunde) came with Little and toured various projects, but they were accompanied by police details and an intelligence officer.

“We know that the police and intelligence officer advised Makunde to stop all contact with Little and to formally inform State security agents on any developments,” said a source close to the legislator.

Mr Cross and Cde Mumvuri both said they never talked to Mr Little.

“I have never had contact with Little. It is not true. He never made any approach to me. I don’t think there is any truth (in this). I don’t think they are funding anyone.

“In my constituency, I am getting assistance from Australians through a water project and a bit from Japan who are helping in income generating activities, but the Americans are doing nothing,” said Mr Cross.

Said Cde Mumvuri; “Oh, I just read about the ‘dirty dozen’ in the newspapers, but he (Mr Little) didn’t approach me. I am a Senator, maybe he was targeting members from the House of Assembly.”

Efforts to get a comment from the other legislators were unsuccessful at the time of going to print as their phones either went unanswered or were not reachable.

Legislators previously said to have contact with the US Embassy in Harare are Zanu-PF’s Cdes Mavhima (Gokwe-Sengwa), Walter Kanhanga (Guruve North), Adam Chimwamurombe (Chipinge West), Chriswell Mutematsaka (Guruve South), Batsirayi Pemhanayi (Mutare North), Enock Porusingazi (Chipinge West), Tapiwanashe Matangaidze (Shurugwi South), Mliswa (Hurungwe West), Kindness Paradza (Makonde), David Butau (Mbire), Mudarikwa (Uzumba); and MDC-T’s James Maridadi (Mabvuku-Tafara) and Willias Madzimure (Kambuzuma).

All of them – except Cdes Mliswa and Midzi – have denied having any links with the CIA spy and the US Embassy in Harare.

Spokespersons of both Zanu-PF and MDC-T have decried the alleged contacts and have said they are investigating the matter.

“We know that the police and intelligence officer advised Makunde to stop all contact with Little and to formally inform State security agents on any developments,” said a source close to the legislator.

Mr Cross and Cde Mumvuri both said they never talked to Mr Little.

“I have never had contact with Little. It is not true. He never made any approach to me. I don’t think there is any truth (in this). I don’t think they are funding anyone.

“In my constituency, I am getting assistance from Australians through a water project and a bit from Japan who are helping in income generating activities, but the Americans are doing nothing,” said Mr Cross.
Said Cde Mumvuri; “Oh, I just read about the ‘dirty dozen’ in the newspapers, but he (Mr Little) didn’t approach me. I am a Senator, maybe he was targeting members from the House of Assembly.”

 

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