By Cuthbert Kanokanga
A vicious and coordinated smear campaign has been unleashed against CIO Director-General Fulton Mangwanya, as shadowy figures and discredited online propagandists scramble to tarnish the image of one of Zimbabwe’s most disciplined and loyal intelligence chiefs.
The latest fabrication—being recklessly circulated by Simba Chikanza of the notoriously discredited gossip platform ZimEye—claims that Mangwanya was duped by online scammers in South Africa.
The story, much like most of Chikanza’s work, is a complete lie, built on imagination, malice, and a desperate hunger for attention.
In reality, Mangwanya was never scammed, never lost a cent, and was never involved in any shady transaction.
The truth—now confirmed by credible authorities—is that a fraudster used Mangwanya’s name to commit a crime, exploiting his public stature to deceive unsuspecting victims.
The suspect was swiftly arrested by South African police, and the matter was resolved within days.
But the more troubling issue is the pattern behind these attacks. Over recent months, a trail of anonymous “briefs,” “dossiers,” and false leaks has been circulating online, all targeting Mangwanya and the institution he leads.
These concocted documents are not the work of journalists—they are the handiwork of cowards hiding behind laptops, trying to stir confusion within the state by using smear tactics and manufactured scandals.
Simba Chikanza, who has long abandoned any pretense of journalism, has made a career out of spreading hate and fabrications.
His so-called “reports” are little more than character assassinations, often aimed at Zimbabwean officials who refuse to bow to his blackmail tactics.
Even among opposition circles, Chikanza’s credibility has long been questioned—his stories frequently collapse under the weight of their own lies.
This latest attack on Mangwanya exposes the depth of moral decay in certain digital spaces where reputations are destroyed for clicks and personal vendettas.
“These are faceless enemies of progress who thrive on misinformation,” said a senior security source.
“Their goal is to weaken the credibility of patriotic institutions through fake scandals and malicious gossip.”
What Chikanza and his handlers fail to grasp is that Fulton Mangwanya is not a social media creation—he is a seasoned intelligence officer whose service and discipline are respected across government and beyond. While others seek fame through controversy, Mangwanya has consistently chosen quiet professionalism over publicity.
Those pushing these lies may soon find themselves answering for their actions. Legal experts warn that the publication of false and defamatory material—particularly involving national security figures—constitutes a serious offense under both Zimbabwean and international law.
For now, the record stands unshaken:
Fulton Mangwanya was never scammed.
No money was lost.
The criminal who abused his name was caught and dealt with.
Everything else is the product of a digital hit job, funded and fueled by bitter exiles and cowards who mistake gossip for journalism.
The campaign against Mangwanya is not about facts—it is about fear. Fear of a man whose quiet efficiency and loyalty to Zimbabwe’s stability stand in stark contrast to the chaos and noise of his detractors.
Soon or later, those hiding behind fake dossiers and false headlines will be unmasked—and when that happens, the truth will speak louder than all their lies combined.
Many have complained about Simba Chikanza’s conduct and many have fallen victim to Chikanza’s crass journalism and unsubstantiated fake news with some calling for Zimeye to be disbanded by the UK authorities.
