Army investigates generals

Two army generals who reportedly described their Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander, General Constantine Chiwenga as a ‘political general with little military expertise’ are to be investigated, an army spokesman has said.

Chiwenga
Chiwenga

Colonel Overson Mugwizi said actions by the two senior army personnel, Major-General Fidelis Satuku and Brigadier-General Herbert Chingono are to be investigated for possible breach of army discipline and the military code of conduct.

The army spokesman told the weekly Zimbabwe Independent newspaper that if investigations prove the the two generals have a case to answer, they would probably be dragged before a military court martial.

A US embassy cable released by the whistleblower website, WikiLeaks three weeks ago revealed Chingono, the inspector general for the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and Satuku the ZDF Director General for Policy and Personnel, made the damning remarks about Chiwenga during private meetings with Ambassador Charles Ray in January 2010.

In the cable destined for Washington, Ambassador Ray concedes that the officers took grave personal risk when meeting with him adding: “Their identities should be strictly protected. In the current environment, they risk being charged with treason for an unsanctioned meeting with US officials, and that could have fatal consequences.”

Chingono, an artillery officer, was the last ZNA officer to train under the America’s International Military Education and Training (IMET) programme, graduating in 1999, while Satuku received training in England. The pair allegedly said Chiwenga, a political commissar before Independence in 1980, lacked military expertise and experience.

Chiwenga only attended one mid-level training course, which he failed after it was discovered he had cheated and apparently shot himself in the chest in a suicide attempt.

Sw radio africa

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