1 post tagged “coup”

De facto bloodless coup

In 2002, the then Commander of the Defence Forces (CDF), General  Vitalis Zvinavashe, warned that the army would not salute opposition candidate, Tsvangirai, should he win the presidential poll as he had no liberation war credentials. This undemocratic, ill-fated assertion is tantamount to a coup d'état.

Joint Military Command

On March 5, 2008, the current CDF General Constantine Chiwenga said that the army would not recognize a government led by President Mugabe's challenger, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, should he win the presidential elections because the Movement for Democratic Change is agents of the West.

On March 3, 2008, the Commissioner of Prisons (Para-Military Force) Major -General Paradzayi Zimhondi said, “If the opposition wins the election, I will be the first one to resign from my job and go back to defend my piece of land. I will not let it go. We are going to the elections and you should vote for President Mugabe.” General Zimhondi must resign immediately. His primordial viewpoint is dangerous and forms the embryonic stage of a military coup.

ZDF generals not only subvert the constitution but persistently violate the provisions of the Defence Act. Such a brazen assault on our fundamental values and contempt of Zimbabwean laws, provide credence to the supposition that the general’s unambiguous warnings of not being prepared to salute a president without liberation war credentials, are counterpart to a pre-emptive military mutiny. This saber rattling by diabetic 60 year old army generals should cease forthwith. These generals agitate for wars that they are not going to fight.

The ZANU (PF) Commander-in-Chief is now 84 years old, his youngest foot soldiers (war veterans) are now 55 years old. What kind of insurgency are these generals proposing should ZANU (PF) and Mugabe lose the elections? Who are they going to fight? “Ndiwo anonzi manatsa mukanwa echembere, kurota ichiyamwa.”

ZDF generals, their ZNA and AFZ subordinates now present a sufficient threat to the outcome of the forthcoming presidential elections.  Their collective inflammatory statements are an act of self preservation designed to outflank the forces of democratic change. We must jointly counter attack with our votes.

The President of Zimbabwe is the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces and it is therefore an unconditional imperative that he depoliticises the military, firmly adheres to the canons of constitution, respects the covenants of the Defence Act and repudiates his commanders for inciting civil strife.

On February 26, 2008, the Commissioner of Police, Augustine Chihuri, issued a veiled threat to the public which literally amounted to a “shoot to kill policy.” All members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police have been given the green light to shoot unarmed, peaceful protesters should the elections be deemed flawed. This directive is designed to instill fear in the hearts of the electorate.

Twenty-eight years ago the ZANLA high command took power in Zimbabwe  and morphed into a quasi-civilian administration by absorbing ZANU(PF) technocrats and academia, ultimately forming the present day government of Zimbabwe . ZANU (PF) is a Para-military organisation. ZDF generals have tasted absolute power, are now addicted to it. They have become embedded in the well orchestrated orgy of looting and pillaging which has manifested and devoured our once vibrant economy. ZANU (PF) retained its private army and is willing to use it to buttress its unpopular regime.

Are we prepared to be ruled by the same corrupt clique for perpetuity because they fought for our liberation? Was it not their own patriotic desires and sacrifices that compelled them to fight for our freedom? We have been brutalized, reduced to a beggar-nation, and have already repaid these so-called liberators through war veteran’s compensation funds, housing funds, land allocations, scholarships, and various other state funded handouts. Enough is enough.

Zimbabwe does not belong to ZANU (PF), ZANLA veterans, or ZDF officers who have now literally eaten their legacy. Real heroes died fighting the Rhodesians, while most cowards, thieves, and fraudsters, survived only to form the present day government which is raiding and pilfering our national coffers.

Generals Mujuru, Zvinavashe, Chiwenga, and Air Marshals Tungamirai and Shiri, whilst still serving as active members of the armed forces, and in violation of the Defence Act, were and still are politburo and central committee members of ZANU (PF). At a time when Zanu (PF) embarked on barbaric acts of brutality against the people of Matabeleland, these generals were enthusiastic participants and contributed to crafting the template for violent repression that continues to be in use by the government and ZANU (PF) today.

Army generals and all uniformed forces officers are ultimately subordinate to the constitution. Court-marshal offences for insubordination should be leveled against all army officers who continue to utter and issue divisive statements that are meant to incite sedition.

In the name of political fair play and in harmony with the philosophy of human decency Zimbabweans hereby appeal to the communal conscience of our generals and ask for restraint.  Furthermore the nation demands a retraction of these inflammable statements and shall seek to censure any army generals and officers whose utterances encourage insolence.  Let us rely on reason not rhetoric.

Zimbabwe cannot be held ransom by a group of individuals whose time for retirement is long overdue.  March 29, 2008 marked both the end of an error and the end of an era. “Handifi ndakabata kumeso kunge mwana wegudo”