By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe defence forces yesterday vehemently shot down complaints from residents of Mvuma, Bulawayo and Gweru over military jets allegedly tormenting them since Zengeza MP Job Sikhala’s trial in Masvingo on Monday.
Added to the mention of jets were sightings of soldiers jogging in the streets while holding a military flag accompanied by a bullet proof military truck.
Responding to the complaints, military spokesman Overson Mugwisi told ZimEye his position is there is nothing unusual with the military presence.
He said the sightings were happening near Thornhill Airbase in Gweru and the jogging was a mere routine exercise. (Listen to the brief interview below).
” No no no no we dont want to create stories you are saying that the soldiers were jogging? Where were they jogging?”
In Masvingo, near the High Court our reporter replied.
“Where update supposed to jog and end?,” he replied.
” We might be wasting time talking nothing here, soldiers jog and train every morning, And they can take any direction and if you ask me why the soldiers are jogging…”
Jogging with a flag, our reporter retorted.
Col Mugwisi then asked, “were they jogging in court?”
He then hit back with a question, “what flag?”
The soldiers are clearly seen in the below video jogging while holding a military flag.
On the airforce jets, Col Mugwisi said there is nothing new as this was done around the area near Thornhill Airbase.
However replying to Col Mugwisi’s comment, a resident reiterated to ZimEye saying:
“What I do know these planes are different to the jets that normally fly out of Thornhill. I’ll try and find out what they look like from someone whose house they fly over to land.
“Normally when the jets are flying around for training they stay close to the base and we know it’s the jets, because they fly around. These planes come in and land and then leave about 2 – 3 hours later. They are big planes ✈️ that make lots of noise on take off”