Zimbabwe Cache Arms Found

ZIMBABWE security forces have found an arms cache suspected to have been left by freedom fighters during the war of liberation. Beitbridge acting police officer Superintended Christopher Chisedse confirmed the discovery of three AK47 rifles and 17 fully charged magazines at a house in Dulibadzimu suburb.

By Wellington Mukanhaire

He said the arms cache was discovered last week.

Supt Chisedze said the rifles were discovered by the owner of the house who always suspected a butt of one of the guns to be a tree stub.

“The woman always believed that the butt of one of the guns was a tree stub,until she decided to remove it.

“She tried digging around before discovering that they were guns hidden in her yard. She then made a report to the police.

“We later summoned the Zimbabwe National Army bomb disposal squad to the area.They recovered three AK47 rifles,17 fully charged magazines and a bandoulia which were courted by rusty”he said

Acting Supt Chisedza said they suspected that the ammunition could have been left during the war of liberation in the late 70s.

“From what we have gathered so far, the arms could have been hidden during the war of liberation,” he said.

He said the ZNA engineers had assured them that the area was safe and that they were no other weapons around the same area.

He urged the public not to tamper with ammunition if they come across any but should alert the police as soon as possible.

The woman who discovered the firearms, Mrs Sibongile Chongoveza said she suspected they (guns) could have been exposed as a

 result of the flash floods which swept across the district early this year.

Mrs Chongoveza said she stared staying at the house in 1999 which was constructed in 1995 by the Zimbabwe Building Society.

“I have stayed here for a very long time with my family un-aware that they were fire arms hidden in our yard.

“I started seeing the butt of one of the guns which I thought to be a tree stub soon after the floods this year.

  For several days I would be tripped by the butt of the gun until I decided to remove it on last week.

“After digging for about 30 cm I discovered an object looking like a rifle and made a report to the police,” she said.