Refused a cigarette by a passerby, a tipsy woman army captain whipped a pistol out of her handbag and blasted off five rounds into the air early yesterday morning in Harare while her companion held the smoker by the throat.
The startled and frightened man managed to break free, ignored the smoking gun and raced for safety, panting into the nearby Borrowdale police station, minutes later, police said yesterday.
The captain and her companion had left a drinking place in the area at about 4 am and while walking home met the man.
The captain asked for the cigarette and received a reply the police described as “nasty”, although the exact words are unknown.
The captain’s companion then grabbed the man by the throat. On reaching the Borrowdale police station the frightened man made his report.
The police knew the captain. She had called in earlier asking for a lift home to Greystone Park and had been told that no car was available.
Meanwhile, she went to the home of an Air Force officer and handed her pistol over to the security guard at the entrance who woke the officer.
The police found the captain near the Air Force officer’s house and arrested her.
