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| author/source:Zimbabwe Standard |
| published:Sun 13-Jan-2002 |
| posted on this site:Sun 13-Jan-2002 |
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| Article Type : News |
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| "The majority of us are suffering like all other innocent Zimbabweans. We cannot be expected to support a government which thrives on terror, because after all they are brutalising our parents and raping our sisters" |
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By our own Staff
Security forces say they are ready to serve any candidate constitutionally elected by the people of Zimbabwe in the presidential election scheduled for 9 and 10 March. In an interview with The Standard last week, several members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) dismissed outright a statement by the defence forces commander, General Vitalis Zvinavashe - on behalf of the entire National Arms of State Security - in which he hinted at a coup if the opposition won the election.
A CIO deputy director said it was clear that President Mugabe, who is also the defence forces commander-in-chief, had sanctioned the statement by Zvinavashe. "We know he was told to deliver a speech along those lines to cause chaos and panic ahead of the election. But this will instead turn against them. They should know that not everyone in the force can be of the same political opinion as they are. In any case, they are forgetting that they are under a constitutional obligation to respect the outcome of the election," said the deputy director.
A colonel in the ZNA said a huge divide existed in the army with the many educated young Turks preferring a change in government, while those employed for their allegiance to the ruling party were determined to maintain the status quo. "Unfortunately for the commanders, many of us consider ourselves professional soldiers who will serve this country in accordance with the constitution. So any coup plotters will find themselves isolated," he said. Another soldier, who is a captain, said Zvinavashe's statement represented the sentiments of the few individuals who had benefited from the corruption now rife within the ranks. "The majority of us are suffering like all other innocent Zimbabweans. We cannot be expected to support a government which thrives on terror, because after all they are brutalising our parents and raping our sisters. We are ready to defend the change that people vote for," said the captain.
Said a senior police officer: "We all know why those chefs are saying what they said on Wednesday. They are political appointees and a new government will mean the end of their jobs, so I am not surprised. But don't mistake that to be the general mood of the uniformed forces, especially the police. Police officers are a disgruntled lot. Our conditions are poor and the remuneration is pathetic. Even the much talked about 100% pay rise will mean nothing to us. A constable gets $13 500 a month and you expect that person to support Mugabe?" A police sergeant said Zvinavashe's statement had not surprised him since Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri had declared himself a Zanu PF member. "It also shows why those suspected of being MDC sympathisers are being victimised in the ZRP. It is the people who will decide who will occupy the office of the president, not the service chiefs," he added.
Zanu PF is now using the controversial statement by the service chief to its advantage in the rural areas where, in a two-pronged misinformation campaign, it is telling peasant farmers that the MDC has been banned by the army, while on the other hand discouraging people from voting for a party not supported by either the military or the police. President Mugabe, 77, faces the biggest challenge of his political life from the MDC's Morgan Tsvangirai, 49.
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