Tortured soldier’s brother murdered

The soldier who last month disclosed to The Zimbabwean that he was severely bashed and left for dead after refusing to re-enlist in the Zimbabwe National Army has revealed that his young brother was recently murdered. 

Roleen Gandiwa, who served in the Presidential Guard Battalion Charlie Company situated at State House, believes his brother Munyaradzi, who looks exactly like him, was killed by state security agents.

“Unknown men in the company of police pounced at our homestead. Those who were present when Munyaradzi was taken away said he explained to them that he was not Roleen but they didn’t believe him and dragged him away. I am convinced that this is a tragic case of mistaken identity and that my brother died in my place,” said a distressed Gandiwa.

“That was the last time he was seen alive. The same day in the evening the body was discovered dead in the bush by Elphias Mtero and his friend who were looking for their cattle. They reported the case at Nembudziya Police station. The officers on duty attended the scene and they found a piece of note attached to his dead body written Munyaradzi Gandiwa,” he added.

Gandiwa believes his late brother will be denied justice as no one will fight for him. He has also lost hope in the police.

“It’s sad that I can’t come out of hiding for my brother’s justice as these state security agents are waiting to kill me,” he said.

“I can’t risk my life because our police are the last people to trust. Before my problems intensified I told them of these threatening messages before I was abducted, but they did nothing and here I am today suffering and losing my family members just because someone wants to take my life,” he added.

Contacted for comment, a family member who refused to be named fearing reprisals said it was sad that their children were being hunted and killed like animals.

“I don’t know why our police and their friends who are supposed to protect us are the ones killing our children. We thought they were going to listen and understand that they got a wrong person, but next thing we hear is that his body was found dead and dumped in the bush,” he said.

Nembudziya police officials refused to comment on this issue, while national police spokesperson Charity Charamba’s phone rang unanswered.

Last month, this paper revealed that Gandiwa was 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).

He had disclosed to The Zimbabwean that more than 290 soldiers were rotting in jail for refusing to re-enlist following tribalism and nepotism that is rife in the ZNA.

“The unknown callers accused 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,” Gandiwa was quoted as saying.

After quitting the army in December 2011, he was kidnapped and suffered at the hands of unknown assailants whom he believes were state security agents.

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 – but since then nothing has happened. The Zimbabwean