Happyton Mabhuya Bonyongwe is a retired army general who briefly served as Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in the cabinet of Zimbabwe from October to November 2017.

Happyton Bonyongwe
Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
In office
9 October 2017 – 27 November 2017
PresidentRobert Mugabe
Preceded byEmmerson Mnangagwa
Succeeded byZiyambi Ziyambi
Director General of the Central Intelligence Organisation
In office
2002 – 9 October 2017
PresidentRobert Mugabe
DeputyAaron Daniel Nhepera
Preceded byElisha Muzonzini
Major General in the Zimbabwe National Army
In office
1981–1999
PresidentRobert Mugabe
Commander in the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army
Personal details
Born (1960-01-11) 11 January 1960 (age 64)
Chikomba (District), Rhodesia and Nyasaland
NationalityZimbabwean
Political partyZANU-PF
SpouseWillia Bonyongwe
OccupationLawyer

Background

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Prior to this he was the director general of the Zimbabwean government intelligence agency, the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) from 2002 to 2017.[1][2] He is a retired Brigadier in the Zimbabwe National Army. As Director General of the CIO he reported directly to president Robert Mugabe, bypassing the Minister for Security. He was appointed Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on 9 October 2017 and he was sworn in on the 10th of October 2017,[3] thereby vacating his CIO post in line with the constitution.

Bonyongwe replaced Emmerson Mnangagwa who previously served as head of the intelligence agency. Mnangagwa had held both posts of Minister of Justice and First Vice President at the same time. In a cabinet reshuffle in October 2017, Mnangagwa's ministerial position was given to Bonyongwe. After the 2017 Zimbabwean coup d'etat, Mnangagwa was sworn in as Zimbabwe's 3rd president but did not retain Bonyongwe as Minister of Justice.

Since 2008, Bonyongwe is placed on the United States sanctions list.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Zimbabwe: Purge Among Military. Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series 44 (8), 17207A–17208C
  2. ^ "Spy boss ill, operated on". NewsDay.co.zw. NewsDay Zimbabwe. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  3. ^ Nduduzo Tshuma (10 October 2017). "8 NEW MINISTERS... 10 others reassigned in Cabinet reshuffle". Chronicle.co.zw. The Chronicle. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  4. ^ Zimbabwe designations.