Four Dead Including CIO operative as Soldier Goes on Shooting Rampage
By Kwedu News
Rushinga, Zimbabwe – Four people were left dead, including a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) agent when a soldier went on a shooting spree in Rushinga on the night of August 9 and 10, 2024, before turning the riffle on himself.
The soldier has been identified as Corporal Henry Ncube, while the three victims include one Justice Makiwa, CIO operative Victor Mufaro Dzaoma, and Evernice Magwenzi who was Corporal Ncube’s girlfriend.
Circumstances are that at around 9 pm on the 9th of August, Corporal Ncube and Lance Corporal Simbo, who were part of a military patrol team, both clad in camouflage uniforms and armed with AK47 rifles, approached Justice Makiwa outside Goto Bottle Store at Rushinga Business Centre after closing hours.
A police report says earlier, Lance Corporal Simbo and Corporal Ncube entered Chikuni Bottle Store dressed in the army uniforms and armed with the AK rifles in what patrons viewed as an intimidation tactic.
This, according to the police report, did not go well with the patrons who were in the bottle store.
Back to approaching Makiwa, a heated argument is said ensued between the two army officers and Makiwa, resulting in Corporal Ncube shooting the civilian in the head.
“The first now deceased Justice Makiwa was drinking beer beside his vehicle a (Toyota) Fortuner white in colour… when he was approached by… Lance Corporal Simbo Tawanda (32)… and Corporal Ncube clad both in camouflage uniform armed with AK47 rifles.
“A conversation ensued between the two soldiers and the now deceased Justice Makiwa and they had a heated argument.
“The accused person corked his rifle and shot Justice Makiwa on the head once and he fell down,” the police report says.
In the chaos that followed, Corporal Ncube fired more shots, grazing Lance Corporal Simbo’s left hand and hitting Dzaoma, the CIO agent, in the abdomen.
“The accused fired more shots and one of which grazed Corporal Simbo Tawanda once on the left hand as he was trying to disarm him.
“The accused also shot the second deceased Victor Mufaro Dzaoma on the abdomen while the latter was trying to restrain him from further discharging his firearm,” the report said.
Another member of the patrol team was shot and injured in the process.
“One of the shots hit… Insp. Munemo Munetsi who was in the company of the team on the right hand where he sustained a wound and was bleeding profusely.”
Inspector Munetsi was rushed to Rushinga clinic for treatment.
One Assistant Inspector Matare who was part of the patrol team escaped unhurt.
After the crime, Corporal Ncube disappeared from the scene and proceeded to the army barracks where he found his girlfriend, Evernice Magwenzi, who he shot in the head while she lay asleep, before turning the gun on himself.
“The accused person vanished from the scene armed with the AK rifle and proceeded to the Army Barracks where he resides.
“Upon arrival he found his girlfriend Evernice Magwenzi lying on the bed and shot her on the head and she died instantly.
“After shooting Evernice Magwenzi, Corporal Ncube shot himself on the neck and died,” police said.
Zimbabwe Republic Police Rushinga and Central Investigation Department Mt Darwin attended the scene.
AK47 rifle cartridges were recovered from the scene, and the rifle was found between Corporal Ncube’s legs.
