The dreaded Central Intelligence organization has been implicated in the mysterious death of The Times newspaper journalist Richard Mills in Harare.

Mills was found dead in his hotel room two weeks ago but his family was informed of the death last night, after his remains and personal belongings were returned to the family.

Police in Zimbabwe say he committed suicide.

On the morning before he was found dead Mills had just interviewed a white farmer who was almost beaten to death after speaking out against Mugabe because land and property was being illegally usurped.

The circumstances surrounding Mills’s death follow a pattern by the CIO,the deaths are disguised as suicide. On the 19th April this year CIO forced Moses Bashitiawo from Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe, Kavamba ward, to climb a tree
with a rope round his neck and jump. His relatives were forced to bury him that same night.

Just last week an MDC activist Hilton Chironga, his mother, sister and a neighbour were forced to drink a poisonous Chinese made herbicide at the Howard area of Chiweshe. Chironga suffered horrific facial injuries, described as corrosive burns, his face is now disfigured is in serious health condition. Another person who was with Chironga identified as Madamombe has already died from the poison.

Mills’s father, Richard Mills Snr said the family does not believe the Zimbabwe police official version of his son ’s death, particularly as his son had just adopted a seven-year-old boy the very day he died.

“It doesn’t appear to us to be the actions of someone who is about to take their own life,” said Mr Mills.

“For now we want to lay him to rest but we will be looking for answers to some of the questions that we have.”

Journalists have become a constant target in Zimbabwe for exposing ZANU PF’s reign of terror. The state would prefer the official version that there is no violence and in cases where its irrefutable the MDC is accused.

Last year a freelance cameraman, Edward Chikombo, was abducted and killed by Central intelligence operatives after he smuggled out of the country television pictures of the badly injured opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai
after he was beaten by police on 11 March 2007.

Mills is survived by his wife Zoe, son Finn, parents Richard and Patricia and sisters Pamela and Tara.His funeral will be held at Roselawn Crematorium at 3pm on Tuesday he was 41.