By Political Reporter- Retired Army General and Zanu PF politburo member Engelbert Rugeje narrowly escaped death after a mysterious car accident in Harare.
The accident, which occurred in Mount Pleasant, involved one of the wheels of his vehicle suddenly flying off, nearly causing the car to overturn.
Sources close to the matter revealed that the vehicle was saved from flipping over when it hit rocks, leaving Rugeje, a prominent figure in both the military and political spheres, shaken but unharmed.
Though attempts have been made to keep the accident under wraps, sources within Zanu PF confirmed the incident. When contacted Rugeje expressed surprise, replying, “Who gave you this information? Where did you get that?” before refusing to comment further.
This near-fatal accident follows the mysterious death of Air Commodore Peter Zimondi, Director-General of Administration in the Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), earlier this month.
Zimondi, a powerful figure within the military, succumbed to injuries from a suspicious road accident in July, having spent weeks in intensive care.
His passing has intensified speculation about growing internal conflicts within the country’s military and political elite.
Engelbert Rugeje, a key ally of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, played a pivotal role in the 2017 coup that led to the ousting of long-time ruler Robert Mugabe.
At the time, Rugeje was part of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) leadership, which orchestrated Operation Restore Legacy, a military intervention aimed at removing Mugabe from power and installing Emmerson Mnangagwa as president.
Rugeje’s military background made him a central figure in the coup’s execution.
Following Mugabe’s removal, Rugeje was appointed as ZANU PF’s National Political Commissar in 2018.
However, his tenure was short-lived, and in 2019, he was replaced by war veteran Victor Matemadanda.
Matemadanda was later moved to Mozambique as Zimbabwe’s ambassador, with Mike Bimha assuming the position in 2021.
Rugeje’s removal from this strategic post is believed to have been part of Mnangagwa’s efforts to weaken Chiwenga’smilitary allies within the party.
His narrow escape from the recent accident has raised concerns about targeted attacks on senior military figures loyal to Chiwenga, as tensions between Mnangagwa and his deputy continue to escalate.
Insiders within the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) have disclosed that there is an assassination list targeting at least five generals, all of whom are said to be aligned with Chiwenga.
These officers are reportedly marked for their involvement in the 2017 coup and their continued loyalty to the vice president, who remains a powerful figure in Zimbabwe’s military and political landscape.
The death of Air Commodore Peter Zimondi has only heightened suspicions.
Zimondi, who held his position since 2018, was not only a key figure within the AFZ but also connected to the powerful Zimondi and Shiri families, both of whom have seen senior members die under suspicious circumstances in recent years.
Zimondi’s brother, Paradzai Zimondi, the former Commissioner-General of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, and their cousin, the late Air Force Commander Perrance Shiri, also died in questionable circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, with yet another high-ranking military figure involved in a suspicious accident, fears of a coordinated effort to eliminate Chiwenga’s supporters are mounting.
The growing spate of accidents and mysterious deaths within Zimbabwe’s military elite points to an intensifying power struggle between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga.
Since the 2017 coup, Mnangagwa has systematically sidelined or removed military officers perceived to be loyal to Chiwenga, consolidating his own power base ahead of any potential leadership contest.
As the battle for supremacy continues, Mnangagwa is believed to be mobilizing his political allies to prevent Chiwenga from ascending to the presidency.
This has placed the generals who played crucial roles in the coup—and who remain close to Chiwenga—in a vulnerable position, with many now reportedly fearing for their lives.
The recent accidents involving Rugeje and Zimondi suggest that the internal conflict within Zimbabwe’s ruling elite is far from over, with assassination attempts and targeted killings becoming a new frontier in the fight for control of the country’s leadership.