Section 226: Command or control of national intelligence service
Constitution of Zimbabwe
(1) A national intelligence service must be under the command or control of a Director- General of Intelligence Services who must be appointed by the President for a five-year term which may be renewed once.
(2) The Director-General of Intelligence Services must exercise his or her command or control in accordance with any general written policy directives given by the Minister responsible for the national intelligence service acting under the authority of the President.
(3) A person who has served as Director-General of Intelligence Services may not be appointed to the command of any other security service.
PART 5
P RISONS AND C ORRECTIONAL SERVICE
Insight on Command of National Intelligence Service
This provision creates a system of limited tenure for intelligence leadership, with the five-year renewable once term striking a balance between operational continuity and preventing entrenchment of power. The requirement for the Director-General to follow written policy directives establishes civilian oversight while maintaining presidential authority. The prohibition on leading other security services after serving as Director-General creates a firewall between intelligence and other security branches, potentially preventing concentration of security influence in one individual.