As Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) we take great exception to the involvement of senior management of the defence forces in partisan political activities, particularly the recent spate of statements and threats against political party leaders, activists, church leaders and the broader civil society.
In terms of section 211, “the defence forces must respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all persons and be non-partisan, national in character, patriotic, professional and subordinate to civilians as established in the constitution”.
Contrary to the provisions of sections 211 and 208 of the national constitution where “members of the security services must act in accordance with the constitution and the law” and must not “act in a partisan manner” or “further the interests of any political party or cause”, the recent utterances by Commander of Defence Forces, General Constantino Guveya Dominic Chiwenga, are ultra vires these provisions and should be condemned in the strongest of terms.
By commenting on statements made by Dr Joice Mujuru at the ZimPF rally in Mashonaland East Province where she called President Robert Mugabe to order for denigrating the roles played by other war veterans during the war, General Chiwenga abdicates his role as the commander of the Zimbabwean army assuming new roles as Mugabe’s spokesperson, Zanu-PF spokesperson, spokesperson for the war veterans, all rolled in one.
It is our belief that General Chiwenga’s involvement in partisan politics and his perchance for issuing out threats to political party activists is tantamount to using his military office to intimidate and bully opposition political party members who are exercising their political rights and freedoms of expression, association and the right to belong to political parties of their choice.
We respect General Chiwenga’s rights as a Zimbabwean, his freedom of expression and his right to associate or join a political party of his choice, but we implore him to do that within the confines of the law and outside his official designation as commander of our armed forces.
He should, if he wants to be politically active, relinquish his position in the force and join active politics wherein he would subject himself to the vagaries of political criticism without the luxury of falling back on military force against perceived political opponents.
-ZimPF Information Dept
