Zanu PF turns to army generals for oxygen

Editorial from the Real Change Times

The cat is openly out of the bag.

Robert Mugabe has done Zimbabwe and SADC a favour by admitting that he is the principal power source of a few military generals now in charge of Zanu PF. In the process, he explicitly assumed the main responsibility for the unending investor anxiety, fear and political instability.

A coterie of security service chiefs is in active politics to subvert the democratic will of the people, especially during national elections, as a key Zanu PFpillar of support. The position is not only dangerous to the civilian order but wholly unconstitutional and illegal.

The Constitution of Zimbabwe and the accompanying statutes which Mugabe swore to uphold are very clear. Chapter 11.02 of the Defence Act; Chapter 11.10 of the Police Act; Chapter 7.11 of the Prison Act and Chapter 11.04 of the Public Service Act demand the neutrality of the military, the police force and the prison staff and all civil servants in matters of politics, governance and public administration.

“I want to make it very clear that no one should meddle with the command,” a desperately looking Mugabe told a Zanu PF meeting at the weekend. “Parliament cannot be Commanderin- Chief of the security forces. It has no business debating the conduct of individuals in command; let them raise that with me in appropriate forums… No one has mustered the courage to raise issues with them. Their false courage only comes outside that platform…This is why we repudiate demands they make in their politically drunk condition, indeed dismiss them with utter contempt.”

It is a pity that Mugabe won’t get away with such a careless gaffe. Any long term solution to the Zimbabwean crisis shall have the blessing of SADC and the AU. The next election and subsequent power transfer shall be a result of a process that has an extreme international interest and endorsement.

Neither Zanu PF nor Mugabe, with the consent of a few in the military, can sustain and maintain a rugged deportment in the political field, claiming to be a player, referee and match commissioner – all rolled into one. Zimbabweans know that they are past that stage and shall dismiss Mugabe’s nostalgic rage like drops of water off a terrified buck’s back.

Further Article XIII of the Global Political Agreement (GPA), an interparty arrangement brokered by SADC with the support of the African Union and saved Mugabe from extra battering and humiliation after Zanu PF and he dismally lost the 29 March 2008 election, requires all state organs and institutions to stay away from partisan politics.

The MDC and the people of Zimbabwe do not need to remind Mugabe and Zanu PF that the GPA is now part of the national Constitution, again which Mugabe swore allegiance to – apart from the signature he appended onto the agreement that led to a regime change in February 2009.

In 13.1 the Article explicitly reads: “State organs and institutions do not belong to any political party and should be impartial in the discharge of their duties.

“13.2: For the purposes of ensuring that all state organs and institutions perform their duties ethically and professionally in conformity with the principles and requirements of a multiparty democratic system in which all parties are treated equally, the Parties have agreed that the following steps be taken:

“(a) that there be inclusion in the training curriculum of members of members of the uniformed forces of the subjects on human rights, international humanitarian law and statute law so that there is greater understanding and full appreciation of their roles and duties in a multi-party democratic system;

“(b) ensuring that all state organs and institutions strictly observe the principles of the Rule of Law and remain non-partisan and impartial;

“(c) laws and regulations governing state organs and institutions are strictly adhered to and those violating them be penalised without fear or favour;

“(d) recruitment policies and practices be conducted in a manner that ensures that no political or other form of favouritism is practiced.”

Given the above critical provision to the legitimacy of the civilian regime in power in Zimbabwe today, Mugabe’s latest outburst defies logic and cries out loudly for a cogent explanation. The remainder of the content of his feeble speech to his party faithful pales into insignificance, in particular when he slid into his usual anti-Western blusters and rants.

“The so-called security sector reforms all of them emanate from Western interests, are a proposition from an enemy who wishes to weaken us,” he said. “We are not in the habit of taking advice from our enemies. Let the MDC formations find something to talk about, not that one please!

“Beyond their present service, these are men and women who served in the ranks of our two liberation armies, Zanla and Zipra. They have defended our freedom, kept the peace. Above all, they have brought peace to other nations who were in danger or needed assistance. Their record is there for all to see.”

Mugabe’s comments followed a parliamentary motion, now under debate, from Hon. Settlement Chikwinya (MDC: Mbizo) calling on the House of Assembly to condemn all unconstitutional and treasonous public statements that bring into disrepute the noble institutions of the army and the police and further sought to appeal to all such bodies to restate their loyalty to the Constitution and the laws of Zimbabwe.

Under the Privileges and Immunities of Act, a parliamentary committee has the authority and power to summon any Zimbabwean to appear before it to provide information on any matter that is in the national interest. It would therefore be unlawful and unconstitutional for Mugabe to interfere with the legislature and to stop Hon. Chikwinya’s motion.

The basic duties of the security forces are to defend Zimbabweans. Mugabe’s desire to exhort the security forces to discriminate against Zanu PF’s political enemies and competitors are wishes that fall outside the expected duties and responsibilities of the military, CIO, the police and the prison service.

The motion followed remarks by Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba that the defence forces viewed Mugabe as a life president and President Tsvangirai as a national security threat unfit to run Zimbabwe even when the people overwhelmingly say so like they did on 29 March 2008.

Because of the confusion inside Zanu PF, most of the party’s legislators fully support comprehensive political reforms before the next election and are uncomfortable with the bulk of the sentiments from the few party activists in the military.

Last week, Joram Gumbo, the Zanu PFchief whip, tried to distance Parliament from Nyikayaramba’s utterances describing him as a misguided missile.

“Brigadier-General Nyikayaramba is not a service chief as alleged and his statement does not represent the views of services chiefs. Furthermore, he is not a spokesperson of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF). His statements must not be regarded as the views or legal position of the ZDF,” said Gumbo.

“He is not a Zanu PF MP and people should not mistake that. I think the statements he made should not have been made given the political situation in our country. Some words are better not said because they cause disharmony. The statements were very unfortunate as it will send the wrong message to our youths in our various constituencies who can end up engaging in political violence.

“As leaders in our constituencies, we must be very careful in what we tell our members, and it is fact that Zanu PF and MDC supporters clash a lot and we need to avoid any statements that incite them,” said Gumbo.

“The treasonous statements can be dismissed in light of the fact that the Brigadier-General was enunciating values he holds dear in his personal capacity,’’ Gumbo said.

But on the contrary Mugabe, while responding to cases involving the selective application of the law by the police force, said: “If you disrespect them (the police) they won’t respect you and so we say to the MDC, yes we agreed to be partners with you in the GPA. You are Zimbabweans, but we know you don’t have the same beliefs as ourselves. Your allies are our enemies and even then you become enemies of those who liberated the country.”

For the record, the majority of Zimbabweans and citizens of Africa took part in the liberation war as a national and continental project against decolonisation.