By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |
Commander of the defence forces, Constantine Chiwenga, has dismissed as nonsense, claims that he belongs to Team Lacoste, a camp said to be fighting to replace President Robert, 92, who has ruled Zimbabwe for an unbroken 36 years.
Two distinct factions emerged in the ruling Zanu PF after the December 2014 congress that stood down Joice Mujuru, Mugabe’s deputy from 2004, and replaced her with Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The camps are Team Lacoste, led by Mnangagwa who reportedly wants Mugabe out before the 2018 general elections, and Generation 40 that is believed to be fronted by Grace, the first lady.
The G40 outfit reportedly includes Higher and Tertiary Education minister, Jonathan Moyo and Zanu PF national commissar and Local Government minister, Saviour Kasukuwere.
Speaking to State journalists on Monday, Chiwenga denied links with Mnangagwa.
“That is nonsense. Do you believe in that? People who peddle such kind of nonsense are not worth their soul,” said Chiwenga in response to a question.
He was flanked by Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) commander, Air Marshal Perrance Shiri, Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) commander, Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda, and six other generals during the media briefing.
Recently, however, Chiwenga spoke like a Team Lacoste commissar, attacking prominent members of G40, Jonathan Moyo and Mandi Chimene, the Manicaland provincial affairs minister and head of a splinter war veterans’ grouping fiercely opposed to Mnangagwa.
He accused Jonathan Moyo of trying to destroy Zanu PF from within and insinuated that Chimene was a dagga smoker as widely speculated.
The army is seen as having thrown its weight behind Mnangagwa and rebel war vets who recently called on Mugabe to go.
The pro-Mnangagwa provincial affairs minister for Masvingo, Shuvai Mahofa, recently said the military must take over the running of government.
Chiwenga vowed his loyalty to Mugabe and said the army would not brook an unconstitutional take-over of government.
“The ZDF will never accept any unconstitutional change of government and we stand firm and unequivocal by the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the ZDF, his Excellency, Cde Mugabe,” he said.
“It follows that the ZDF, while remaining apolitical, would not tolerate or support any unconstitutional change of Government in the country, whether internally or externally induced,” added Chiwenga. Nehanda Radio
