He is now continuously receiving death threats from people identifying themselves as Al-Shabaab – a militia group, known for terrorising residents in Kwekwe in an attempt to coerce them to vote for Zanu (PF). Meaning “youths”, it is named after an Islamic terror group operating from strife-torn Somalia and is an off shoot of al-Qaeda.
“I started receiving these death threats in October but now I get them daily. The unknown callers accuse me of betraying the army especially the Presidential Guard where I once served. I want the world to know of this before they kill me. I have tried to seek help from the police, but they just ignore me even if I show them these death threat messages,” said Gandiwa.
After quitting the army in December, he was kidnapped and suffered at the hands of unknown assailants whom he believes are state security agents in December last year. “I was beaten with clenched fists, booted, sjamboked, beaten with wheel spanners and logs. After two days, I was dropped at the roadside naked. I was picked by a Good Samaritan named Prince Jokonya who took me to my relatives and police.
The police could not record my statement as I was in pain and they promised to pay me a visit at the hospital,but a constable Mafukidze mentioned something about a CIO plotting to abduct me but could not state the reason. I was discharged from Kwekwe General Hospital on December 10 with no sign of the police visiting me. On January 10, unknown men masquerading as police visited me and demanded to see my medical report. I refused to give it to them and since then things have been tense for me,” said Gandiwa.
Gandiwa’s misery has been going on since 2011 as he was once detained by the army for submitting his resignation papers. “I spent the whole of year 2011 and part of 2012 under military detention – seven months in Harare remand and eight months in Chikurubi. I left the army because of constant unfair treatment from my senior officers Major Chichetu and Major Taderera, who secretly vetted soldiers. I decided not to re-engage on a second contract as I had completed my first five years.
“They said I was going against the will of the Commander-in-Chief, which says that no one was allowed to retire until further notice. They froze my salary and said I would not get it without signing a new contract. I told them it was better to be a civilian than to be a political soldier – that’s why I was charged with disobedience and desertion. I love my country and I’m being forced to leave it what about my citizenship?” added Gandiwa.
He revealed the names of other soldiers who are suffering in prison for refusing to renew their contracts. “There were 290 others who refused to renew their contracts in 2011. They were from Presidential Guard, Commando and mechanised brigades and included Capt Huni, Lt Mpangani, Sgt Maposa, Cpl Kawadza, Cpl Matema, L/Cpl Maponga, L/Cpl Nyoni, Pte Godzi, Pte Hakata, Pte Gandiwa, Pte Sibanda, Pte Makondo, Pte Tamanikwa, Trooper Mundondo, Pte Kwashira, Pte Jema, Cpt Ncube, L/bdr Sibanda, Pte Ndimande, Lt Magodhi and Major Warikandwa who was later poisoned despite serving in the army for 30 years,” he added.
Late last year, police spokesperson assistant commissioner Charity Charamba was quoted in the media saying she needed more time to verify the alleged activities of Al Shabaab – since then nothing has happened.
Post published in: News
I salute you Mr Gandiwa for being true to your beliefs after realising the true nature of your commanding officers. Not many are so brave. May God bless you and keep you and your family safe.