Few will mourn the death yesterday of Dr Chenjerai "Hitler" Hunzvi, the so-called war veterans' leader who, as much as Mr Robert Mugabe, spearheaded the invasion of hundreds of white farms in Zimbabwe and led his supporters to murder with impunity.
Motorists in Harare yesterday made clear their feelings about the death of the man who never actually fought in the liberation struggle as they honked their horns in celebration. But outside the hospital ward where Dr Hunzvi died, his supporters stood vigil and promised revenge on those celebrating his death. Almost everyone was left wondering what it will mean for Zimbabwe to lose a man who was more widely loathed than Mr Mugabe, yet also wildly popular among his supporters.
Dr Hunzvi was one of the very few who dared to threaten and cajole the President, and he arguably posed as much of a threat to Mr Mugabe's power as any political opponent. But as long as he was on the President's side, he was also his greatest asset as the leader of the shock troops of the assault on the political opponents of ZANU-PF.
Dr Hunzvi (51) collapsed a fortnight ago and was confined to a heavily-guarded hospital room. The official diagnosis was malaria, but his battle with AIDS was well known.
Dr Hunzvi was no respecter of diplomatic protection. He bluntly threatened foreign diplomats and last month his militia assaulted the Canadian high commissioner to Zimbabwe, prompting the Ottawa government to halt all financial aid and impose other diplomatic sanctions.
Neither was he reluctant to set an example to his men. He publicly beat opposition supporters with an iron bar and human rights groups accused him of personally torturing Mr Mugabe's opponents in his office during the parliamentary campaign. Earlier this year he threw a petrol bomb at four opposition members of parliament and ordered 60 of his followers to beat them.
A medical graduate, he nevertheless preferred to be called "Hitler" rather than doctor. "Do you know why they call me Hitler?" he spat at a white farm manager last year.
"It is because I am the biggest terrorist in Zimbabwe. I am the most dangerous man in this country. And you must do what I tell you."
There were not many in Zimbabwe - friend or foe - who disagreed with that description.