Death of a brigadier

A top-ranking Zimbabwean Army officer died yesterday when a train smashed into his car on a crossing in the town of Marondera, capital of Mashonaland East. Sources immediately hinted that he had been assassinated by military intelligence because of his alleged involvement with the recent attempted coup.

He was Brigadier Armstrong Gunda, Commander of One Brigade, stationed in Bulawayo, and reckoned to be number four in the army hierarchy. At one time he was head of the Presidential Guard, reporting personally to Mugabe.

A member of his family told me yesterday: "He had hinted to me that he and other senior officers had been questioned about the coup. He was apparently suspected of talking to the leaders of the MDC