Generals finally salute Tsvangirai

By Never Kadungure

Zimbabwe’s arrogant set of generals who vowed never to salute Morgan Tsvangirai were forced to eat humble pie on Tuesday when they saluted the country’s new Prime Minister.

The generals have time and time again said they would not salute anyone without a liberation war history and specifically made it known their loyalty was to Mugabe and not Tsvangirai.

But during Armed Forces Day on Tuesday which was attended by Tsvangirai, the generals saluted their previously sworn enemy.

Several weeks ago Defence Minister Emerson Mnangagwa told parliament that the generals were not legally obliged to salute anyone outside their military structures.

Mnangagwa further explained that Mugabe was always saluted because he was the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.

“There are two positions: the legal and the civil position. At law, no officer will commit any offence for not saluting a person who is not in the military structure, but morally they should salute senior members of society,” he said