PERENCE SHIRI

INTERESTING READ ON THE COMMANDER OF THE ZIM AIR FORCE
Zimbabwe air force head 'wounded'
Air Marshal Shiri is the first senior figure to be targeted for many years
The commander of Zimbabwe's air force has been wounded in what officials are calling an assassination attempt.

Perence Shiri, a close ally of President Mugabe seen as one of the most feared military leaders, was hit in the arm and is said to be stable.

The opposition says he was one of the masterminds of violence against its supporters during this year's election.

The incident comes as pressure grows on Zimbabwe to allow international mediation in its political crisis.

The crisis is compounded by a cholera epidemic which has left hundreds dead.

On Monday, at the UN Security Council's first discussions on Zimbabwe since July, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said the world was witnessing a failure of the leadership in Zimbabwe to address the crisis.

After disputed presidential elections in March, Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change agreed to form a power-sharing government.

But implementation of that agreement, reached in September, has been dogged by disagreements over whose supporters would get key ministries.

'Terror attacks'

Correspondents say this is the first time such a senior government figure has been the target of a violent attack for many years.

Air Marshal Shiri was ambushed on Saturday while driving to his farm.

South Africa's Mercury newspaper quoted police as saying he was accosted by unknown people who shot at his car.

When he heard the gunshots, he got out thinking it was a puncture and was shot.

Officials said the incident was one of a series of attacks aimed at destabilising the country.

"The attack on Air Marshal Shiri appears to be a build-up of terror attacks targeting high-profile persons, government officials, government establishments and public transportation systems," the Chronicle newspaper quoted Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi as saying.

However, other sources suggest the cause was either a feud within the ruling Zanu-PF party or an attempted robbery.

On Monday, Zimbabwe's government said it had "compelling evidence" that neighbouring Botswana was hosting military training camps for opposition groups intent on bringing about regime change.

Botswana denied the charges, and said Harare had failed to provide any tangible evidence to back up its allegations.

Air Marshal Shiri sits on the joint operations command which advises Mr Mugabe.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said the JOC was behind the violent attacks on its supporters ahead of June' presidential run-off - allegations the military strongly denied.

Air Marshal Shiri was commander of the Fifth Brigade, blamed for the killing of 20,000 people in Matabeleland during the 1980s.


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