Solomon Mujuru Solomon Mujuru ( 1 May 1949 – 15 August 2011 ) , also known as Rex Nhongo , was a Zimbabwe an military officer and politician who led Robert Mugabe ' s guerrilla forces during the Rhodesian Bush War . He was from the Zezuru clan . In post - independence Zimbabwe , he went on to become army chief before leaving government service in 1995 . After leaving his post in the Zimbabwe National Army , he got into politics becoming Member of Parliament for Chikomba on a Zanu PF ticket . He was generally regarded as one of the most feared men in Zimbabwe . His wife , Joyce Mujuru , became Vice - President of Zimbabwe in 2004 . Rhodesian Bush War . During the Rhodesian Bush War Mujuru , with Josiah Tongogara , led the ZANLA forces when Mugabe languished in jail for 10 years from 1964 to 1974 . Robert Mugabe and Edgar Tekere with the help of chief Rekayi Tangwena their medium , had slipped into Mozambique after their immediate release from jail with the active support of Mujuru , who implored guerrillas , most of whom had never met Mugabe , to accept him as their leader . " As a result Mugabe owes ( Solomon ) Mujuru an eternal favour , " said one Zanu - PF insider . He was the only person believed to have had the stature to challenge Mr Mugabe during party meetings . Post - Independence . General Mujuru took over the command of the Zimbabwe National Army at independence in 1980 , retiring 10 years later to go into business . Popular speculation is that he owned anywhere between six and sixteen farms , including Alamein Farm , a productive and high - value operation illegally requisitioned as part of a " landgrab " from Guy Watson - Smith in 2001 , as found by the Zimbabwe High Court and international courts . However , he remained an influential member of the ruling ZANU - PF politburo and central committees . In the mid - 1990s Mujuru clashed with Emmerson Mnangagwa , long considered Mugabe ' s favoured heir , when Solomon bid to buy into the multi - billion dollar Zimasco , a chrome mining and smelting concern in Zimbabwe ' s Midlands Province . In 2001 Mujuru became the subject of the first legal action against any member of Mugabe ' s inner circle implicated in the illegal seizure of land and assets . His seizure of Alamein Farm was ruled illegal by the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe . Mujuru and his wife are among the ZANU - PF party members subject to personal sanctions imposed by the United States . Kingmaker . According to newspaper reports Mujuru had been under house arrest and 24 - hour surveillance since November 2007 for his role in attempting to oust Mugabe . It was generally thought that Mujuru had a tremendous amount of influence on who would lead ZANU - PF and the country . Death . Solomon Mujuru died in the early hours of the night of 15 August 2011 in a fire at the homestead of Alamein Farm in Beatrice . in circumstances that many commentators suggest were suspicious He had stopped at the Beatrice Hotel , 60 km south - west of Harare , drank and chatted with patrons . He was having an early night before a long journey the next day . A maid and guard at the farm testified they heard gun shots two hours before flames were seen at his farmhouse . Mujuru left groceries and his cell phone in his car , something he had never done before . The general took 40 minutes to drive from the hotel to his farm , a journey of 10 minutes . An enquiry was opened . The lone policeman was asleep at the time , and after he awoke had no airtime and the radio was broken . The firetruck when it arrived had no water . The coroner investigating Mujuru ' s death concluded he had died of smoke inhalation , but Mujuru ' s family does not have confidence in the coroner ' s findings . They plan to petition for approval to exhume Mujuru ' s remains and have them independently examined by a doctor of their own choice . Mujuru ' s remains are located at Heroes Acre , a memorial in Zimbabwe .