Legal and Parliamentary think-tank, Veritas has accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime of failing to implement recommendations of the Motlanthe Commission by allowing the continued deployment of soldiers who are being used to enforce the Covid-19 lockdown.
Mnangagwa had to set up the commission in 2018 following a disputed election that resulted in the shooting of at least six civilians by the military during post election protests.
The commission found that the army was involved in the shootings and recommended that necessary prosecution be made. It also urged the government to desist from deploying the army to maintain order arguing that this was the mandate of the police.
In its recent bulletin, Veritas accused the government of not implementing the commission’s recommendations following the government’s deployment of soldiers to enforce the Covid-19 lockdown.
It also condemned the soldiers’ arrest of 12 MDC Alliance officials in Chinhoyi, on charges that they had gathered at the party offices in contravention of the lockdown regulations.
“Soldiers man roadblocks together with the police to enforce lockdown restrictions on movement. Soldiers are also deployed to patrol high-density areas and clear city centres. Their involvement in enforcing the lockdown has been institutionalised in regulations under the Public Health Act, which include members of the defence forces in the definition of ‘enforcement officer’, Veritas said.
“The delay (in implementing Motlanthe’s recommendations) can’t be attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic because the legal reforms that are needed to democratise Zimbabwe and to implement the commission’s recommendations can be developed, drafted and passed by Parliament even if the country is in lockdown.”
Veritas added: “The pandemic has, however, been used as a pretext for ignoring the commission’s recommendation that soldiers should be called on to assist the police only as a last resort. As we have noted, soldiers have been manning roadblocks and helping to clear city centres during lockdowns.”
Recently, the United Kingdom slapped sanctions on Minister for State Security Owen Ncube, Central Intelligence Organisation chief Isaac Moyo; Zimbabwe Republic Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga; and Anselem Sanyatwe, a former commander of the presidential guard over their role in human rights abuses.
The move will restrict their travel to Britain and freeze their assets.
He can’t bcoz the army has discovered that ZRP is earning a leaving through corrupt activities
Sure magandanga ngaaende kubarrack
So enforcing covid regs is illegal?? Soldiers have the constitutional mandate to augment the police.
Stupid post…
Ticky Ncube stupid comment that’s police duty to enforce lockdown regulations to curb the spread of covid 19
But because zim it’s a military state which is being ruled by unconstitutional retired military generals that’s why everything involves the military
SN T Dube be enlightened on how army works with the police according to zim constitution
Hayiya Masuku point
SN T Dube which clause in our constitution says retired army personnel should not run the country
The curfew should continue, and the army should be operating the way they are doing, this have reduced the breaking in of houses at night, the police have failed to stop these criminal activities, so the army please continue operating.
He is the https://t.co/Jq7PO8vQbt https://t.co/tJRVs0be2R the Cartel.Called State Capture.
Ndiwo madhodhi aya