CENTRAL Intelligence Organisation (CIO) deputy director (Internal) Elias Kanengoni has died. He was in his late 50s.
Report by John Nyashanu.
It is understood that Kanengoni collapsed and died at his farm in Concession, Mashonaland Central Province, on Wednesday evening. He was reportedly rushed to a private clinic in Harare where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Media, Information and Publicity minister Webster Shamu confirmed Kanengoni’s death, but did not give details.
“It’s really sad, but I can’t say much as I am in a meeting,” Shamu told NewsDay yesterday.
Kanengoni became the talking point in Zimbabwean politics in the run-up to the 1990 parliamentary election when he, together with Zanu PF Chiwundura MP Kizito Chivamba, shot and seriously wounded Gweru businessman Patrick Kombayi for challenging the late Vice-President Simon Muzenda for the Gweru Urban seat.During that election, Kombayi represented the Zimbabwe Unity Movement which was led by former Zanu PF secretary-general Edgar Tekere.
Kombayi sustained serious gunshot wounds and had to seek medical treatment in London, while Muzenda went on to win the seat by 14 000 votes against the late businessman’s 8 000. Kanengoni and Chivamba were convicted for attempted murder and sentenced to seven years in jail, but President Robert Mugabe immediately intervened and pardoned them. After their release, both Kanengoni and Chivamba went on to become top spies in Mugabe’s office.
