Published by the government of Zimbabwe
10 July 2009
Harare — The Zimbabwe National Army has expressed concern over the "unwarranted accusations" by the widow of the late national hero Brigadier-General Armstrong Paul Gunda over the circumstances of his death.
In a statement yesterday, ZNA director of public relations Lieutenant-Colonel Overson Mugwisi said Mrs Tatenda Gunda and any other member of the public was free to look at the findings of the board of inquiry that was constituted to look into the accident that claimed Brig-Gen Gunda's life.
"The Zimbabwe National Army notes with great concern the continued publication of the tragic passing on of the late Brigadier-General Armstrong Paul Gunda, the former Commander of 1 Infantry Brigade.
"Under the prevailing circumstances of unwarranted accusations of unspecified authorities by Mrs Gunda, the army wishes to advise her and any other interested party in this tragic loss that the results of a board of inquiry, which was convened to investigate the accident, are out.
"The proceedings are readily available to any interested party, including the late Brigadier-General's family." Lt-Col Mugwisi said Mrs Gunda was "at liberty to conduct her own independent investigations on the mishap since she has the right of recourse to such a public inquiry".
Mrs Gunda has on a number of occasions published advertisements in the public media insinuating that the national hero died in suspicious circumstances. Brig-Gen Gunda died in June 2007 when the car he was travelling in was involved in an accident with a train off the Harare-Marondera Road near Watershed College. A board of inquiry set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death -- in terms of the Defence Forces Disciplinary Regulations of 2003 established that there was no foul play.
The regulation states that when any member of the Defence Forces has or is believed to have died within Zimbabwe, a proper military authority or provincial magistrate of the province within which the death occurred, or a military court of inquiry, will be constituted in accordance with the law or custom of the service to investigate the cause of death.
Mrs Gunda has, since her husband's death, published a number of advertisements that imply the board of inquiry misled the public. Some delegates to the 13th Comesa Summit in Victoria Falls also complained about the manner in which she has created a "shrine" full of the same insinuations at the private lodge that she operates in the resort town.
At the lodge, Mrs Gunda has erected a miniature Great Zimbabwe Monument that is flanked by a huge portrait of the national hero and a reproduction of the insinuating accusations that she has published regularly since 2007.
Portraits of the hero and the same accusations are also found in some of the rooms as well as the restaurant.
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