A Zimbabwean policeman has been arrested at Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri’s house in Borrowdale, Harare, after he allegedly ran amok when his attempt to steal goods at the house was foiled by a colleague.
The state-controlled Herald newspaper reports that the unidentified policeman, who was guarding Chihuri’s house at the time of the shooting, was spotted moving some properly from the place without authorization.
The newspaper reports that he used an FN rifle to stop a senior officer from arresting him, hid inside the house while shooting and then set part of the house on fire before he was detained by a police details from the Support Unit.
Indications are that part of the house was extensively damaged in the inferno that was extinguished by the Air Force of Zimbabwe Fire Brigade.
Chihuri, information secretary George Charamba and police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba were not available for comment.
The incident has set social media on fire with some people claiming that Chihuri was being allegedly targeted by the army, which seized critical state institutions in a coup a few weeks ago that saw the stepping down of Robert Mugabe and elevation of Emmerson Mnangagwa to the post of president.
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces claims that it did not stage a coup but intervened to block a looming political crisis.
Chihuri was allegedly in Generation 40, a faction of the ruling Zanu PF party, which wanted former First Lady Grace Mugabe to succeed 93 year-old Mugabe before he was toppled by the military.
The military sided with Mnangagwa’s Team Lacoste group that is now in control of the party and government.