The night the tanks rumbled in
Ministers took cover as army moved to topple Mugabe
President Robert Mugabe’s most trusted lieutenant and head of security was the first to face the wrath of the military takeover on Tuesday night.
Albert Ngulube, the Central Intelligence Organisation director of security, left Mugabe’s palatial mansion in Borrowdale, an upmarket suburb in Harare, after briefing his boss, and was driving to his office when he noticed a car following him. It cornered him and a group of soldiers appeared from nowhere.
The Sunday Times has learnt that Ngulube, who was on the army’s list of 20 people to be seized that night as part of its operation, was pulled out of his car at around 10.30pm.
He managed to call his wife when he was thrown into one of the tanks before his phone was confiscated.
He was taken to the headquarters of the Presidential Guard in Borrowdale and accused of spying for Mugabe.
Sources with intimate knowledge claim Ngulube was stripped naked and assaulted. “The vicious attack only stopped when they realised that he was about to die.”
Another source claims Ngulube was also shocked.
Ngulube is accused of associating with the so-called G40, a cabal working with first lady Grace Mugabe. Education minister Jonathan Moyo, a Mugabe ally, is believed to be the strategist and brains behind the G40.
After Ngulube was seized, military personnel continued with a co-ordinated raid on houses of the 20 men on their list.
Another source said that Moyo had received a tip-off on Tuesday from an army colonel that his house would be raided early on Wednesday.
Moyo is said to have contacted local government minister Saviour Kasukuwere, another member of the G40. “Moyo asked Kasukuwere if he and his family could come and hide in the finance minister’s 52-room mansion believed to have a bunker.”
The army raided Moyo’s house and roughed up a gardener after soldiers could not find their target.
Soldiers proceeded to Kasukuwere’s residence and arrived there at 2.30am.
“They shot their way into the residence. They were just shooting at the house, windows and doors. They did not enter the house. The assault was heavy and sustained,” another source said.
“Some 20 minutes after the guns went silent, the two families sneaked out and allegedly [sought] . . . refuge at Mugabe’s private residence,” the source added.
A raid at finance minister Ignatius Chombo’s house turned deadly as soldiers were confronted by well-armed private guards, believed to be from Israel, and there was a fierce gun battle, with one of the guards reportedly killed.
Chombo was seized, assaulted and taken to one of the army barracks.
“While raiding the house, the soldiers allegedly found $10-million [about R140-million] in one of the rooms,” a source said.
Ngulube was released on Friday and after the intervention of military intelligence, and rushed to Corporate 24 Hospital in Harare, where he was treated for his injuries, which included a gash on his head.
The finance minister’s whereabouts remain a mystery. “We are not sure whether he [Chombo] is dead or alive,” a source said.
The military takeover has seen police restricted in conducting their daily duties. Police had become loathed for setting up roadblocks to fleece motorists of money.
Given the factional infighting in Zanu-PF, the police were seen as an extension of the G40, as Chombo had previously been home affairs minister, in charge of the police.
It is not clear where police commissioner Augustine Chihuri is. Speculation is that he is in military detention.
He was assaulted and the vicious attack only stopped when they [army] realised that he was about to die Source in Zimbabwe Country insider