Mnangagwa and Tagwirei top ally attacked at KG6.
In a brazen act of infiltration, Brigadier-General Fidelis Mhonda, commander of the Presidential Guard Brigade, discovered on Monday 26 May that his office inside the highly secure KG6 Barracks had been completely stripped of all personal and official items. Arriving at the compound shortly after first light, Mhonda found the room immaculate except for an empty desk and chair, the walls bare where family photographs, liberation-war memorabilia and service accolades once hung.
Investigators say the breach occurred under the cover of darkness and went unnoticed by the multiple layers of security that guard the barracks, located adjacent to the army headquarters. Witnesses report that all door locks and surveillance systems were tampered with, yet yielded no alarms or footage. The missing items include classified documents, personal letters, framed commendations and historic photographs that chronicled Mhonda’s rise through the ranks during Zimbabwe’s war of liberation.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said an army source, speaking on condition of anonymity. “This office is deeper in the compound than most and requires passing through several manned boom gates. Whoever carried out this operation had detailed knowledge of the layout and security protocols.”
A History of Controversy
Brigadier-General Mhonda has long courted controversy. He is widely believed to have provided the Presidential Guard as a private force to back high-profile political actors, most notably the business magnate Kudakwashe Tagwirei. In a 2024 video titled “Generals for Sale,” Mhonda was accused of accepting US$25,000 per month from Tagwirei to deploy his troops in support of allied factions.
Sources close to the investigation suggest the break-in may be politically motivated. In recent months, Mhonda publicly lent his support to Kuda Tagwirei’s political campaign and presided over the “Young Women for ED” rally in Masvingo, where his wife served as chief coordinator for Tagwirei’s “Land Tenure Implementation Initiative.” The rally, critics say, was intended to bolster the standing of the ruling party among young female voters.
Unanswered Questions and Conspiracy Theories
The circumstances of the heist have given rise to speculation across social media and political circles. Some observers posit that it was a warning from within the military hierarchy, aimed at curbing Mhonda’s influence. Others claim foreign intelligence agencies may have orchestrated the raid to obtain sensitive files or weaken the Presidential Guard’s leadership.
Political analyst Dr. Tafadzwa Bambaninga believes the perpetrators sought more than memorabilia. “The removal of official documents suggests an effort to compromise operations or blackmail the commander,” she explained. “If these files are in the wrong hands, they could expose covert deployments or internal communications that are not meant for public view.”
Official Response and Ongoing Investigation
Military spokesman Colonel Tendai Masawi confirmed that an investigation is underway. “We have formed a high-level inquiry team drawn from military intelligence and law enforcement agencies,” he said. “Our priority is to recover the stolen materials and identify those responsible. We are reviewing all security logs and interviewing personnel assigned to the KG6 Barracks.”
Colonel Masawi declined to comment on the possibility of insider involvement but assured the public that no breach of national security protocols would be tolerated.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, is said to have been breifed and in response described the incident as “unacceptable”. He has instructed the defence minister to oversee the inquiry personally. He added, “The integrity of our security forces is paramount. Those who undermine it will face the full weight of the law.”
Implications and Wider Fallout
The incident has shaken confidence in the Presidential Guard, long perceived as one of Zimbabwe’s most trusted security units. If the missing documents include operational orders or deployment records, their disclosure could have far-reaching consequences for national security and regional stability.
Opposition parties have seized on the event, accusing the ruling party of permitting the militarisation of politics. “When generals act as campaign managers, they cross the line,” said opposition leader Lovemore Madhuku. “This break-in is a symptom of a security apparatus that has become entangled with partisan interests.”
As investigators race to piece together the timeline and motive behind the heist, one question looms largest: who dared to penetrate the fortress of Zimbabwe’s most formidable brigade commander? Whether this act signals an emerging factional battle within the military or a calculated political gambit remains to be seen. For now, the office of Brig-Gen Mhonda stands as a stark reminder that no stronghold is immune to the reach of determined adversaries.
Advocacy For Human Rights and Democracy
