A new investigation by The Sentry is set to shake the foundations of Zimbabwe’s already fragile democracy. Slated for public release tomorrow, the report reveals explosive details about how the Central Intelligence Organisation secretly funded Forever Associates Zimbabwe during the 2023 general elections. This hidden financial support significantly advanced ZANU PF’s controversial campaign and re-election bid for President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The Sentry, known worldwide for its uncompromising investigations into kleptocracy and political corruption, has exposed a complex financial network that shows how the CIO allegedly violated its constitutional mandate by covertly bolstering FAZ’s election machinery. The findings accuse the CIO of acting outside legal boundaries and redirecting national intelligence resources toward securing victory for the ruling party. This alone renders the election results deeply questionable and casts a massive shadow over Mnangagwa’s so-called win.
The report, which follows hot on the heels of last week’s exposé also focused on FAZ, uses a combination of open-source data and confidential financial records to track the movement of funds. It zeroes in on one CIO-linked company, which is unnamed until the official report drops, and exposes how it funneled large sums of money to FAZ. This financial support quietly bypassed standard government oversight mechanisms and allowed ZANU PF to run a parallel election campaign backed by state intelligence.
This revelation is not just a local scandal. The Southern African Development Community has already questioned the credibility of Zimbabwe’s 2023 elections, and this report provides damning confirmation of their concerns. If SADC was looking for proof that the polls were rigged, The Sentry has delivered it. The regional body’s rejection of the results gains renewed weight as this evidence shows that the CIO was deeply involved in tilting the electoral playing field.
What makes this situation more alarming is that it represents a complete abuse of state power. The CIO is supposed to serve the nation, not a political party. By backing ZANU PF’s campaign in secret, it transformed itself into a partisan weapon. This is not national security. It is political warfare against the people of Zimbabwe. Using taxpayers’ money to finance an illegitimate electoral project is not just unethical. It is criminal.
For a country already suffering under decades of economic collapse, political repression, and global isolation, these findings could become a turning point. If Zimbabwe is to emerge from this dark tunnel, the manipulation of elections by intelligence operatives must end. The report could inspire local and international demands for electoral transparency, democratic reform, and institutional accountability. It could also trigger sanctions and other measures targeted at those who orchestrated and benefited from this scheme.
Political observers, opposition leaders, and civil society actors are eagerly awaiting the full report to better understand the depth of CIO interference. As these groups digest the contents, the country’s political future hangs in the balance. This could be the beginning of a new wave of resistance and awakening among citizens who are tired of being treated like spectators in a rigged game.
What happens next will depend on whether the revelations lead to real consequences. Will the regime be forced to answer for its actions? Will opposition parties demand a formal investigation and challenge the legitimacy of Mnangagwa’s presidency with renewed force? Will the international community go beyond mere statements and apply real pressure?
The Sentry’s report is more than an exposé. It is a mirror held up to a system that has become addicted to power at any cost. For Zimbabwe, this is a moment of reckoning. If ignored, it will only deepen the cycle of abuse. If embraced as a call to action, it could be the beginning of a much-needed political transformation.
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