Engelbert Rugeje
Encyclopedia
Major General Engelbert Rugeje is the Chief of Staff of the Zimbabwe National Army
. He was born in Bikita, Charamba Village, he's an heir of the Charamba family who of the Duma clan(Rozvi Kingdom)and educated at Silveira Mission where he excelled before he joined the ZANLA guerrilla freedom fighters at the age of 16. Rugeje aka Sunbat rose within the ZANLA forces to become a member of the General Staff or commander. His exploits at the battle front were heroic. The charismatic soldier was attested into the new Zimbabwe National Army as the youngest major in 1980. In 1983 he was promoted to Lt Colonel and became a Colonel in 1987. Rugeje led a team of expert to quash the ZIPRA rebellion in Matabeleland from 1983 to 1987 when he was commander at Inkomo Barracks (1 Mechanised Battalion). Rugeje was successful in leading missions against the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) as he was commander of 1 Commando at that time and crashed a revolt by the MNR from his base in Tete Province. In 1990 he was promoted to Brigadier General and became Quarter Master of the ZNA. He was actively involved in the DRC mission where he led successful counter insurgency missions. Rugeje graduated at Lancaster University with a Masters in Defense & Strategic Studies, Masters in Law and MBA from Havard. In 2000 he was promoted to Major General becoming the 4th in Command of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. Rugeje, ZNA spokesman Ben Ncube
, and Air Vice-Marshal
Elson Moyo
were "allegedly" arrested on June 7, 2007 along with almost 400 soldiers for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Mugabe administration
. Rugeje is being called the "brains" of the attempted coup d'état
.
On October 24, 2006 he praised cooperation between the military of Zimbabwe
and the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Zimbabwe National Army
The Zimbabwe National Army is the land warfare branch of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The ZNA currently has an active duty strength of 30,000.-History:...
. He was born in Bikita, Charamba Village, he's an heir of the Charamba family who of the Duma clan(Rozvi Kingdom)and educated at Silveira Mission where he excelled before he joined the ZANLA guerrilla freedom fighters at the age of 16. Rugeje aka Sunbat rose within the ZANLA forces to become a member of the General Staff or commander. His exploits at the battle front were heroic. The charismatic soldier was attested into the new Zimbabwe National Army as the youngest major in 1980. In 1983 he was promoted to Lt Colonel and became a Colonel in 1987. Rugeje led a team of expert to quash the ZIPRA rebellion in Matabeleland from 1983 to 1987 when he was commander at Inkomo Barracks (1 Mechanised Battalion). Rugeje was successful in leading missions against the Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) as he was commander of 1 Commando at that time and crashed a revolt by the MNR from his base in Tete Province. In 1990 he was promoted to Brigadier General and became Quarter Master of the ZNA. He was actively involved in the DRC mission where he led successful counter insurgency missions. Rugeje graduated at Lancaster University with a Masters in Defense & Strategic Studies, Masters in Law and MBA from Havard. In 2000 he was promoted to Major General becoming the 4th in Command of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. Rugeje, ZNA spokesman Ben Ncube
Ben Ncube
Lieutenant Colonel Ben Ncube is the spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Army.Mercenaries attempted to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea by departing in a plane from Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe National Army seized the plane on March 9, 2004 before it took off and arrested the mercenaries...
, and Air Vice-Marshal
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
Elson Moyo
Elson Moyo
Air Vice-Marshal Elson Moyo was a deputy commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe and one of the main figures in the 2007 Zimbabwean coup d'état attempt....
were "allegedly" arrested on June 7, 2007 along with almost 400 soldiers for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Mugabe administration
Robert Mugabe
Robert Gabriel Mugabe is the President of Zimbabwe. As one of the leaders of the liberation movement against white-minority rule, he was elected into power in 1980...
. Rugeje is being called the "brains" of the attempted coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
.
On October 24, 2006 he praised cooperation between the military of Zimbabwe
Military of Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces are composed of the Zimbabwe National Army and the Air Force of Zimbabwe . As a landlocked country, Zimbabwe has no navy...
and the Chinese People's Liberation Army.