IN A shocking development, one of the soldiers guarding President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House fired several rounds of live ammunition earlier this week, before he was apprehended as he was about to reload his gun, the Daily News reports.
The soldier — who has been identified as ‘‘Private Mugadu’’ — is said to have been sent for psychiatric examination after the worrying incident to establish his mental well-being.
This comes after both Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and her permanent secretary, Mark Grey Marongwe, recently told legislators about the desperate financial situation that is currently confronting the military.
“Without any warning, the soldier pumped 30 shots into the air, sending many people into panic before some brave soldiers close to him managed to apprehend him as he was reloading his gun.
“The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon and I understand that the soldier is currently detained,” a source told the Daily News yesterday.
“This young man has a troubled history and once said that he wanted to resign after serving three years, because it is allowed in the army.
“In fact, there were 10 of them who wanted to do that at the time, who took their letters to Commanding Officer Samson Murombo — who, however, allegedly tore up their letters,” the source said further.
Another source said when Mugadu was apprehended, he was taken to the Presidential Guard headquarters, where he was interrogated by its commander, Brigadier-General Mhonda — with the two men apparently engaging in a fist fight.
“He (Mugadu) accused his superiors … of living it up while the rank and file were suffering. As of yesterday (Thursday), he was said to be no longer co-operating — insisting on seeing the president or the Defence Forces commander (General Philip Valerio Sibanda).
“He has a history of mental health problems which is said to have been detected when he was about 15. He also has a 23-year-old brother who is also said to be mentally ill.
“Among the things he said was that even if he was silenced, there were more soldiers with similar feelings like him,” yet another source told the Daily News last night.
Zimbabwe Defence Forces spokesperson Overson Mugwisi said he could not comment on the matter as it fell under the purview of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA).
“Talk to the spokesperson of the army, Colonel (Alphios) Makotore … he will assist you on that,” Mugwisi said.
On his part, the army spokesperson referred all questions to the State Residence.
“Talk to the State Residence, they will assist you,” was all Makotore said.
Mnangagwa’s spokesperson, George Charamba, said he was yet to get the details of what could have happened at State House.
The military, like all other sectors in the country, is reeling from Zimbabwe’s worsening economic rot.
A few days ahead of the presentation of his 2020 National Budget, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube told the Daily News in an exclusive interview that Zimbabweans should not see shadows behind the government’s plans to improve the welfare of the security sector.
“Peace comes at a cost. So, you pay for the peace … we consume peace, it’s a service. Just try war and see what happens to the value of everything when you have instability.
“People complain about soldiers this and that, but let me tell you, if we do not have peace you will have huge problems,” he said.
“We are also working on a programme to acquire motorcycles and vehicles (for the police) … they should not be driving BMWs but mushika-shikas. That is the way to go.
“It’s very important that we should make sure that the security cluster is well funded, that soldiers have a decent meal, three meals a day, as well as the police,” Ncube further said.
“Right now police can’t respond to incidents of crime because there are no motorcycles, no vehicles and so forth. They also have nowhere decent to live. So, think about their accommodation … and the same applies to the military as well.
“So, all of this is critically important. These are not things you do in one year, but food is for tomorrow … transportation and housing you do it over time,” he added.
While addressing MPs in Victoria Falls during Ncube’s budget consultations, Muchinguri-Kashiri painted a sorry picture of the state of affairs within the military.
“We are expected to host other defence forces but no-one wants to come here because of these conditions.
“We can’t beg for food for soldiers. These are people who have sacrificed themselves,” she said.
“We need food rations as we are expected to provide 30 items, but we are only giving them (soldiers) 10.
“We are expected to provide four sets of uniforms but they have only one. You can identify a Zimbabwean soldier by their worn-out uniforms,” Muchinguri-Kashiri told MPs who included Ncube.
On Monday this week, Marongwe told Parliament that the welfare of soldiers was a huge challenge for the Defence ministry.
“Feeding and kitting of our army was achieved, although not at the intended levels and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
“At one time, the calculations we made in relation to feeding figures showed that it had deteriorated to a mere $0,39 to feed one soldier during the middle of 2019.
“The ZDF abroad was last paid their allowances in February and we have a situation where some who finished their courses were unable to return home because they borrowed money from their counterparts from other countries.
“And without paying it (the borrowed money) back, they cannot come back home,” Marongwe told the committee on Defence and Home Affairs.
