By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |
Defence minister, Sydney Sekeramayi, has denied that soldiers have mutinied and joined recent civil protests, claiming instead that opposition-linked protesters are buying military uniforms for use during demonstrations.
“There is absolutely no truth in those fabrications that soldiers have joined anti-government protests…They will not take part in illegal activities that seek to remove a constitutionally elected government,” said Sekeramayi.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has just “revealed” that the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T), other political parties and civil activists were sourcing army uniform replicas from outside the country in order to cause internal strife through protests.
Recent media reports indicated that some army details had joined protests that took place recently out of frustration with the government of President Robert Mugabe.
The smuggled military fatigue spin apparently emerged after some activists wore replicas of army uniform, a common trend among musicians and ordinary citizens that include children.
The replicas are easily obtained over the counter from local shops and outlets in other countries in the region.
Sekeremayi said activists were putting on military uniform to give the impression that soldiers had joined in the protests.
“But we also know that there will be so many people posing as soldiers. The opposition has been trying their best to get what will appear as camouflage of the defence forces in order to confuse people that they have teamed up. But the soldiers are not part of that.
“Government is in control because there is the police and the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). They will expose this. There is no breakdown of law in Zimbabwe. The police have managed to contain the situation,” said Sekeramayi.
He refuted media reports based on eye witness accounts of soldiers being deployed to reinforce the police during a march for electoral reforms that turned violent last Friday.
“When soldiers are deployed everyone can see it. You don’t have to imagine. There is a wrong impression that is being created and purveyed through hostile media that things are very bad in Zimbabwe. But the truth is that the police have managed to control the situation,” he added. Nehanda Radio
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