By Tinoonga Mawere -Gutu | Overzealous soldiers from Eastdale Air Base were stunned when vendors retaliated and overpowered them after they had abducted and assaulted one of the vendors, accusing him of undermining the authority of the state.
 
The soldiers last week apprehended one Ngoni Kuwatsengera who is a vendor at Mupandawana town and accused him of taking photographs of the military vehicles while campaigning for Grace Mugabe.
The soldiers bundled Kuwatsengera into their bus and kicked him with booted feet and hit him with clenched fists. They also accused him of undermining the office of the president. Angered by the attack on their colleague ,the vendors teamed up and confronted the soldiers who attempted to abduct Kuwatsengera.
However the vendors stood their ground and blocked the army bus. Sensing danger the soldiers dropped off Kuwatsengera and fled from the scene.
Soldiers in Gutu have a standing record of assaulting residents thought to be sympathetic to the opposition .
“The soldiers made a quick retreat after realising they could not overpower the vendors so the soldiers fled from the scene .The vendors blocked the army bus demanding the release of Kuwatsengera who was accused of underming the authority of the state,”said an eyewitness .
Only two weeks ago the soldiers force marched villagers and vendors in Gutu to Grace Mugabe’s death rally at Mushayavanhu High School .
Soldiers have also unleashed an orgy of violence against innocent civilians and the armed forces play a pivotal role in maintaining President Mugabe’s grip on power .