THE ZIMBABWE
PEACE PROJECT
ZPP is concerned by the growing trend in the
use of live ammunition on unarmed citizens,
with four killings recorded in October and
five in September. The security of persons is
increasingly under threat.
In one case, on 2 October 2020, a Zanu PF
youth was shot dead while nine others
sustained serious injuries following a land
dispute with CIF holdings security guards in
Hopely Ushewokunze suburb, Harare South.
Reports indicate that the youths who were
coming from the Robert Gabriel Mugabe
International Airport where they had gone to
bid farewell to Malawian President Dr Lazarus
Chakwera at the end of his two-day State
visit, went to Harare South where they
clashed with security guards for arresting
their colleague, Tonderai Marongwe after a
land dispute.
Following the dispute, the guards dispersed
the youths with gun shots and one died on
the spot with nine others sustaining serious
injuries. The victims were admitted at Sally
Mugabe Central hospital, while the two
security guards were arrested.
The second case involved a senior Zanu PF
official, retired l Lieutenant General Engelbert
Rugeje.
It is alleged that a man died after a reported
shootout at the home of the retired
Lieutenant General on 12 October 2020.
It was reported that Rugeje was not home
when at least six men armed with pistols
scaled a perimeter wall to his Mt Pleasant
home at around 3am.
Two soldiers guarding the property
exchanged gunfire with the intruders who
fled. The gunfight attracted other armed
units guarding other VIPs on Cheshire Road,
police sources said.
During a subsequent sweep of the area at
around 5AM, the body of a man with gunshot
wounds was found at 18 Cheshire Road;
Rugeje lives at number 6. A search of his
pockets turned up a Zanu PF Youth League
membership card.
Witnesses also told police of a black Range
Rover which allegedly picked up the
deceased’s associates.