Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri on December 26 2018 at the late commander Josiah Magama Tongogara’s memorial service in Harare gave a heart rending account of the army general’s death.

Writes Cheryl Bhauren:

Muchinguri Kashiri broke down in the process as she narrated how Tongogara died in an accident on their way from Mozambique.

She said:

“I wrote a book on the story [of Tongogara’s death]. I did not know that I was not allowed. Maybe now we can say it because the people are dead.

When I wrote the book, I was summoned by former President Mugabe [then Prime Minister], who was in the company of the country’s military commanders Generals Solomon Mujuru, Vitalis Zvinavashe and Josiah Tungamirai, all bedecked in their official uniforms. You know how scary that is. I was asked to hand over the book.”

According to Muchinguri Kashiri, Mugabe prevented the publishing of her book and her opening up regarding the death of Tongogara was because all the three commanders that she implicated had died.

The Zanu Pf national chairperson’s testimony also comes at a time when former president Mugabe was ousted in a coup by the current administration led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

“The New Dispensation” said Mnangagwa as he assumed office silencing all divergent voices which sought to vindicate the former Zanu Pf leader who had been at the helm of power for over 3 decades.

But what is it that kept Muchinguri tight lipped about general Tongo’s death? Was it Mugabe or there is another force? Is Muchinguri telling the truth that she had nothing to do with the late army commander’s death?

The widow to the late general Tongo Senator Angeline Tongogara is on record saying she has more questions than answers regarding the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death.

Muchinguri Kashiri has for the past 37 years remained mum about her former boss Tongo’s death. Angeline has pleaded with her, with Mugabe to even visit the site where her husband died to no avail. She is on record expressing her disgruntlement to Mugabe over the secrecy regarding the  circumstances surrounding her husband’s death. Muchinguri Kashiri was there and with held the information because she feared Mugabe? And now she implicates the same Mugabe she feared as the reason for her silence. Is this true or Muchinguri Kashiri is the one who keept the secrets of Tongogara’s death for political expedience?

It remains to be seen whether Mugabe will come to the fore and clarify why Tongogara’s death was kept a BIG secret if indeed he died in an accident.

Zanu Pf cadres are popular and very popular for using the blame game especially for ousted members and those who would have departed. Is Muchinguri not playing the same trick?

Or we wait for the documentary set to be released by the late Tongogara’s family.