MASVINGO Major General Engelbet Rugeje, the fourth in command in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), on Friday night left revellers paralysed by fear when he pointed a pistol at MDC-T legislator for Masvingo South, Tichaona Chiminya's forehead, before threatening to shoot him.The incident, witnessed by Radio VOP, happened at Chevron Hotel Bar at about 1030 hours. Zanu (PF) Chivi North Member of Parliament, Iverne Dzingirai, who was in the company of Brig Gen Rugeje, later cooled down tempers and pleaded with him to put the gun back in his pocket.
All hell broke loose when retired army Major Kudzai Mbudzi, who was having an argument with Chiminya, his political rival who out polled him in last years elections, acknowledged the presence of Rugeje when he entered with Dzingirai.
Let me acknowledge the presence of my senior here who is level-headed, not an opportunist like you, Mbudzi told Chiminya, who replied: I do not care, what army general? The bell tolls for them.
This did not go down well with Rugeje who pulled out a pistol, pointed it at the legislators forehead, and threatened to fire.
Who are you to say that, I will shoot you now and I will get away with it. To me killing a person is like killing a fly, you will disappear without a trace, Rugeje reportedly said, amid deafening silence.
Gono chiregai kudaro, mwana waresva, inga akumbira ruregerero wani, (Forgive him he made a mistake and has apologised), Dzingirai said, as the terrified revellers were dead silent.
Chiminya apologised and left the place immediately after the incident. No formal police report has been made so far. Provincial chairman, Wilstuff Sitemere, said he had received a report, but stressed consultations were still underway to map the way forward.
At the height of the run-up to the sham presidential runoff elections last year, Rugeje forced all the shops to close for the Zanu (PF) rally held at Mucheke stadium. The pint-sized Rugeje later threatened people with a post-election war if Mugabe lost the elections.
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