HARARE Air Marshal Perence Shiri, who survived a shooting attempt on his life in December 2008, was not the target of a political assassin but was shot by the boyfriend of an air force sergeant with whom he was allegedly having a romantic relationship. (Pictured: Air Marshal Perence Shiri)The man, a Zimbabwe Nation Army (ZNA) captain stationed at KGV1, was said to be unhappy that the woman (name withheld), was being spotted at restaurants around Harare while being cosy with her boss
The matter has left the authorities in a dilemma, as they had rushed to label Zimbabwe’s enemies and an employee of a developmental agency of trying to assassinate Shiri.
More than nine months after the shooting, there is no movement in terms of bringing the alleged assassin to court.
Police spokesman, Wayne Bvudzijena told The Zimbabwean on Sunday in a telephone interview this week that he was unable to confirm or deny that the ZNA captain was a suspect in the shooting.
Our sources say internal disciplinary measures are now being considered against the captain, but are being hampered by lack of evidence and sympathy for him within the military hierarchy.
The Zimbabwean on Sunday has revealed in the past that forensic experts and military intelligence had established that the AK 47 rifle cartridges collected from the scene of the shooting in Mashonaland Central were traced to the armoury at KGV1. However, there were no records to prove who had signed the rifle in and out as required by normal military procedure.
That alone was enough evidence to make investigators realise that the shooting may have been a result of personal clashes between the Air Force commander and some elements within the ZNA.
Sources said the Central Intelligence Organisation, police and military intelligence had wound up their investigations into the alleged assassination and dismissed it as a love triangle. Bvudzijena denied this and said the case was still open and investigations were continuing, but was unable to give any progress report.
Middle ranking officers at Air Force Headquarters near Borrowdale told The Zimbabwean on Sunday last week that the captain was further incensed when Shiri gave his girlfriend a green Mercedes Benz as a present.
“The captain was understandably angry because his girlfriend was suddenly driving Shiri’s old official car which she takes home to Manyame Air Base after conducting official duties during the day,” said one source.
The couple has now reportedly broken up. In August, Beitbridge-based Colonel Darlington Muleya was shot in the thigh after a confrontation with a Harare man over a local businesswoman, in another love triangle involving a senior military officer.
Shiri was the commander of the 5th Brigade during the Gukurahundi genocide which caused the death of more than 20 000 civilians in the Midlands and Matabeleland provinces in the early 1980s.
Post published in: News