By Political Reporter- The Zanu PF government has declared Brigadier General (Retired) Victor Rungani a national hero, sparking outrage over the state’s continued glorification of men with blood-soaked legacies.
Rungani, who led a reign of terror in Mashonaland East during the infamous 2008 presidential run-off, died Tuesday in Harare after a short illness.
His hero status was announced by State Security Minister Lovemore Matuke at the Rungani family farm in Goromonzi, where relatives and community members had gathered.
Rungani was not just a soldier—he was one of the late President Robert Mugabe’s most feared enforcers.
In 2008, after Mugabe lost the first round of the presidential election to Morgan Tsvangirai, Rungani was deployed as part of a brutal military operation designed to reverse the outcome through sheer terror.
At the time, he was Director of the Zimbabwe National Army’s Engineering and Military Equipment Directorate. But instead of building bridges, Rungani was tasked with breaking spirits.
In Mashonaland East, he orchestrated mass beatings, abductions, and killings of MDC supporters—personally directing torture sessions and re-education camps known as pungwes.
His actions were part of a nationwide scorched-earth campaign coordinated by the Joint Operations Command (JOC), the shadowy military cabal that hijacked Zimbabwe’s electoral process under the guise of defending national sovereignty.
State media, however, glossed over this dark history—reporting only that Rungani died at Mbuya Dorcas Hospital and praising his role in military engineering.
No mention was made of the blood on his hands.
Born in Bikita, Masvingo province, Rungani was one of several senior commanders who turned villages into killing fields.
He operated alongside a terrifying cast of military men: Major General Engelbert Rugeje (Masvingo), Brigadier General David Sigauke (Mashonaland West), Brigadier General Douglas Nyikayaramba (Manicaland), Air Vice Marshal Abu Basutu (Matabeleland South), Air Vice Marshal Henry Muchena (Harare), Brigadier General Sibusiso Moyo (Midlands), Brigadier General Sibangumuzi Khumalo (Matabeleland North), Brigadier General Etherton Shungu (Mashonaland Central), Colonel Chris Sibanda (Bulawayo), and Air Commodore Mike Tichafa Karakadzai (Harare).
Together, backed by the Central Intelligence Organisation and more than 80,000 youth militia, they launched a nationwide campaign of violence that ultimately forced Tsvangirai to withdraw from the run-off.
This campaign was not only political—it was deeply personal, systematic, and savage.
It left hundreds dead, thousands injured or raped, and entire communities traumatised.
While Rungani’s death closes one chapter, it reopens another a chapter of unanswered questions and unhealed wounds.
It reminds Zimbabweans that the men who destroyed democracy and violated the people have never been brought to justice.
Rungani’s name, like those of his fellow commanders, may now appear in the National Heroes Acre—but in the hearts of many Zimbabweans, it is etched in infamy."
The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interrèd with their bones
“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interrèd with their bones” is a quote spoken by Mark Antony. It appears to be about Caesar but is actually about Brutus.
10 comments:
@ Linda Masarira
No amount of spin can change the reality. You have participating in flawed elections knowing fully well Zanu PF was rigging and that participating would give Zanu PF legitimacy. You participated regardless because you knew, just like the rest of the opposition who participated, that Zanu PF was giving away a few gravy train seats. You all participated for a share of the bait!
“My loyalty is to Zimbabwe! I am here to be remembered as the woman who refused to be bought!” Nonsense! Your loyalty is to greed, you have been bought and yet you deny it! How typical!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7waYkIZyI7A
There are those who continue to passionately argue that we, the ordinary people should join up with Geza and company in the fight to remove Mnangagwa fro office. Of course, this is foolish because if the revolution is successful Geza and company will replace Mnangagwa withy Chiwenga just as the 2017 coup replaced Mugabe with Mnangagwa.
"we will stop all Zanu PF thugs getting into power!" the people have been told. Yeah right! Who even dared stop Zanu PF thugs getting into power in 2017? Who indeed will bell the Zanu PF cat?
We want to end the Zanu PF dictatorship and not just swap one dictator for another. We have had many opportunities to end the Zanu PF dictatorship notably during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. The primary purpose of the GNU was to implement the democratic reforms and Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC/CCC friends sold out.
If we cannot comprehend the golden opportunity the GNU offered to end the Zanu PF dictatorship, even now with the benefit of hindsight; what hope is there of comprehending the less clear cut opportunities that are on offer? None!
Indeed, to those who have run out of ideas, the idiotic "Bell the cat!" makes sense!
@ Apripa Badza
"VaMukori we have heard from you and read about what you have written on the short comings of MDC/CCC. We have heard about Zanupf mischief and organised crimes.
We now await to hear solutions to solve our problems otherwise people will just scroll through your articles nokuti kunenge kusina zvinotigadzirisa. Vazhinji pano vari kuti let's find a solution to our problem and agree on way forward. Otherwise tiri kuyita mahumbwe pano apa."
Do not flatter yourself, Zimbabwe is a failed state because people like you claim they know when in fact they fcuk all! If the people know MDC/CCC "shortcomings" as you say, then why did Chamisa con 2 million into participating in flawed 2023 elections? What makes you so sure they will not be con into participating yet again in flawed 2028 elections?
You are just one of the empty vessels on this group making a lot of noise! I know you have no clue what constitute free and fair elections anything beyond might as well be in Greek! It is little wonder you have never comprehended any of the solutions offered.
It is a great pity there are millions of brain dead Zimbabweans just like you and, worst of all, you lot have a vote. Poor Zimbabwe, the nation is at the mercy of the brain dead.
@ Siyabangena
"Ok thats in the past how do we now stop the dictatorship from today goin forwad coz lm yet to hear your practical solution besides blame for ommissions from the past."
After 45 years of repeating the same foolish mistakes the way forward is that you must stop and review the past and learn from the past because it is from reviewing the past that you can be sure not to repeat the same mistakes. Those who will not to learn from the past are doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
After repeating the same mistake for few times, one cannot discount the possibility that you do not have the intellect to comprehend the repeated mistakes and/or to count. It is not all who see who perceive and who hear and understand. After 45 years of participating in rigged elections, for example, only the brain dead will be conned to believe the opposition can win RIGGED elections.
It is Zimbabwe's curse the nation has millions of brain dead nationals and, to crown it all, they have the vote. Zimbabwe's brain dead are holding the nation to ransom!
Born on June 28, 1949, in Bikita, Brig-Gen Rungani's life journey was marked by commitment to the national cause. He joined the liberation struggle in 1975, receiving military training in Mozambique before being deployed to key transport and sabotage operations during the war.
He held several strategic roles in ZANLA, including provincial and sectoral directorships in Gaza province. Post-independence, he became the first ZANLA Commanding Officer in the Zimbabwe National Army and led the 43 Infantry Battalion in Gutu.
Beyond military service, Brig-Gen Rungani was also a dedicated farmer and entrepreneur with a successful mixed farming enterprise. He is survived by his wife Anna and 36 children - 22 daughters and 14 sons - many of whom have taken up professional roles as professors, doctors, engineers, soldiers, and technicians.
Family spokesperson Professor Ellen Rungani expressed gratitude to President Mnangagwa and ZANU-PF for honouring her father:
"We really appreciate the Government and the party's support during our difficult time. We hope to follow in the footsteps of our father."
Mourners are gathered at Number 9 Bally Vaughan Farm in Goromonzi.”
Zimbabwe is a failed state, a result of 45 years of political, social and economic turmoil and brutal oppression. It is laughable that many of those behind the chaos, suffering and over 40 000 politically motivated murders have been declared national heroes and heroines, no less.
The late Rungani played a key role in the barbarism of 2008 Operation Mavhotera Papi, to serve Zanu PF’s tyrannical interests. Gukurahundi, Operation Mavhotera Papi and many other cases are some of the dark chapters in our history. How any of those involved in these demonic acts can be honoured beggars belief!
Zimbabwe’s history of the last 45 years has been bastardised beyond recognition. We own it to ourselves, posterity and all those who died in the fight for freedom and human dignity to correct the historic record. History must state that Zimbabwe is a failed state and name those responsible and how many of these evil men and women were wrongly interred as national heroes and heroines.
“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interrèd with their bones!”
Rangani was evil and history will know him as such!
@Tradestone
You are just too lazy to think. What fear was used to stop Morgan Tsvangirai and company implementing even one token reform during the GNU?
@ Earthman Zhou
"Haaaa iwe regai kusvibisa group nematoto ako aunongo isa pese pese mhani. Wakamboita seiko murume mukuru asinga nyari. Iwe mugoni chawakaitawo ndechipi."
All those in public office are accountable to the people for what they have done or failed to do. They are accountable to the high achievers like yourself who have accomplished many, many things, and they are also accountable to ordinary mortals like me who have never accomplished anything of value!
It is a sacred duty of every citizen to hold leaders to account and I am not going to be stopped in this by some nincompoop who thinks leaders are demigods who should never be questioned! You are just a nincompoop seeking relevance by defending corrupt and incompetent leaders.
It is Zimbabwe's curse that nincompoops like you number in your millions and, worst of all, you have the vote. It is the millions of the nincompoop votes that is giving Zanu Pf legitimacy and perpetuating the dictatorship.
@ Monica Mutsvangwa
The Second Republic is so popular it has been rigging elections to stay in power. SADC and AU condemned the 2023 elections as flawed and illegal, they did not deny the regime political legitimacy only because the opposition conned millions of their brain dead followers to participate in the flawed elections out of greed. The winning CCC leaders took up their gravy train seats even after SADC and AU had condemned the process!
Mnangagwa squandered US$5 billion, at least, in buying the votes in the 2023 elections from the chicken and chip for the hired crowds, to cars for chiefs and church leaders, US$40k for each MP and senator, US$230k, US$400k and US$500k for deputy ministers, judges and ministers respectively; all euphemistically called “housing loans”.
Jealousy Mawarire reported that Chamisa received a cool US$20 million for his idiotic lie that he had ”plugged all the vote rigging loop holes” and thus get the 2 million CCC supporters to participate in the flawed elections. Pretty good wages for one Satanic kiss!
The Zanu PF dictatorship will end if the brain dead Chamisa chete chete brigade can be stopped from participating in flawed elections in their millions. Ever since the 2008 to 2013 GNU debacle in which they failed to implement even one token reform, the MDC/CCC leaders have given up on reforms and have been participating in flawed elections to win the few gravy train seats on offer as bait.
The opposition followers are an ignorant, naive and gullible lot, incapable of thinking for themselves and so have been conned again and again to participate in flawed elections on the basis of idiotic lies to perpetuate their own suffering. One cannot reason with this lot! It is the stuff of nightmares!
@ Nzira
As Zanu PF has loved the country and the people by robbing them blind and even murdering them in cold blood!
ZITF
Bulawayo settings
A man who needs no introduction was also spotted at the 65th Edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair yesterday in Bulawayo. Love or hate him, Sir Wicknell is a successful young billionaire who only knows how to make money. His philanthropic work is his trump card. His mission is to see everyone living a good life by the year 2030 under the watchful eye of His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa..✍️
#Keep the ball rolling towards #Vision2030 ✊🇿🇼
“Sir Wicknell is a successful young billionaire who only knows how to make money. His philanthropic work is his trump card.” What a track load of bull!
Chivhayo has been involved in many multi-million dollar projects in which he made a fortune whilst delivering very little! Is that the template for one “who only knows how to make money”?
Corruption is the number one reason Zimbabwe is a failed state and Chivhayo is one of the most corrupt individual in the land. And he is not even ashamed of his evil reputation!
Indeed, he is even boasts about it. “Chinhu ichi ndakachibata kuti bvii!” To explain why no one was doing anything stamp out corruption and his corrupting influence! So what is it exactly that Chivhayo is holding tightly in his hands?
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