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	Zimbabwe: Ernest Tekere Unmasked allAfrica August 13, 2007 http://allafrica.com/stories/200708130630.html Bulawayo Two former ministers claim to have blown Ernest Tekere's cover -- they say he was a senior operative in the deadly Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) during the Gukurahundi massacres in Matabeleland and the Midlands. Enos Nkala, a cabinet minister in the first government under prime minister Robert Mugabe, and former Matabeleland North governor, Welshman Mabhena, claim to have had different encounters with the "mysterious" Tekere. "Tekere featured during Gukurahundi," said Nkala, who did stints in the defence and home affairs portfolios. "He was a CIO operative and I am prepared to confirm that. If he continues denying it, I will reveal more." But it is Mabhena who claims to have experienced Tekere's "dark side" when he was arrested, along with liberation war stalwart, Nevison Nyashanu, when they were detained for allegedly planning to topple the government. They were detained at Eiffel Flats, where Tekere, then in charge of the CIO in Kadoma was their interrogator. "He interrogated me and Nyashanu when we were arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government," Mabhena recalled on Thursday. "He was in charge of the CIO and he later came to Bulawayo." Tekere, who owns Home Guard Services, the company at the centre of a $20 billion adultery lawsuit against Archbishop Pius Ncube, has vehemently denied any links with the dreaded security agency. He allegedly obtained video evidence showing Ncube being intimate with several women, including Rosemary Sibanda, whose husband Onesimus - a soldier - is suing Ncube for adultery. It is now widely speculated that Tekere took part in the "sting operation" against Ncube, a fierce critic of the government excesses. Nkala said he was prepared to reveal more about Tekere's role and other individuals before a commission of inquiry. "This time Mugabe has gone too far in his fight against Pius," Nkala said. "The archbishop has been very critical of Mugabe and Gukurahundi and it is clear those trying to silence Ncube have skeletons in their closets." Despite these revelations, Tekere insists he was only a CID officer in the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). Although, information about his activities after the so-called retirement from the spy agency is hazy, investigations by The Standard have established that he registered Home Guard Services in 1994. He is a co-director with his wife, Grace. The company address at the Deeds office is given as 2 Jameson Court, 12 Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street, Bulawayo. But his company operates from 125 A Tongogara Street on the outskirts of the city's Central Business District. He himself stays with the first wife in the low-density suburb of Selborne Park. On the business front, his workers complained they are not given pay slips and that they are forced to take soft loans, which are paid back with "punishing interest". "We don't know how he calculates the salaries because he doesn't give us pay slips," complained one of the security guards. "Most of us take home less than $1 million after he deducts the soft loans." On Friday Tekere refused to comment on the issue, saying he does "not trust telephone conversations".
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