via Gov’t Restores Tsvangirai’s Security Privileges
Harare has restored police and state security privileges that were stripped off former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai following the disputed July 31 national elections the labour-backed party says were rigged in favour of President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party.
The elections marked the end of the unity government formed by Mr. Mugabe and the MDC founding leader in 2009 following another disputed poll of 2008.
Spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora of the MDCT told VOA the initial withdrawal of the security privileges was wrong in the first place. He says as a former Prime Minister Mr. Tsvangirai is a statesman and should enjoy the privilege of state security until the end of his time.
State Security Minister Sydney Sekeramayi was not available to comment as his phone went unanswered. Also unavailable was Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri whose phone also was not answered.
Mr. Tsvangirai, who has been working with Mr. Mugabe, holding meetings at State House every week as one of the country’s executives for the past four years, uses a state convoy operated by security operatives, while his residence had round-the-clock armed police officers before their withdrawal after the elections.
It is not clear why the police and state security departments have had a sudden change of heart towards the former trade unionist.
What is also not clear is the exit package agreed on for Mr. Tsvangirai as he leaves office. Besides his official Mercedes Benz, Mr. Tsvangirai uses a Highlands state house.
Some in the MDC think the security reinstatement is a strategy by Mr. Mugabe and his Zanu PF party to persuade Mr. Tsvangirai to engage the veteran leader in talks to form another coalition government following the disputed polls.
But others dismiss that saying Mr. Mugabe’s government is doing the right thing by restoring the security privileges, adding the decision to strip the former Prime Minister of the service could been taken hastily by overzealous officers following the disputed elections.
COMMENTS
I guess it’s been reinstated for a completely different purpose. Security as the eye of those who are eager to monitor him in all aspects of his life. Inonzi ZANU iyoyo, hakuna chemahara. Digging deeper.
In a normal democracy the leader of the opposition is treated as a head of government in waiting.
What RUBBISH leader 7n waiting what cr…..ap come on are you for real
Leader in waiting Heeeehee
All wishful thinking
What a joke..
IN THE CIVILISED WORLD THAT IS WHAT THEY DO! BUT THEN ARE WE!
When the security was taken away, there were complaints. When the same was restored there are complaints from the same quarter. Surely one can do no good to some people in this world.
I don’t think Tsvangirai would lose sleep over the withdrawal of state security details. As popular as he is, he has nothing to fear in his own country, and secondly, those state security details are actually spies reporting to Jongwe House on his activities, security being used as a convenient smokescreen! He is better off without them, in actual fact! Hadzisi tsitsi dzeZanu idzi, they realised they cannot monitor him without their people on the ground, hence the perceived u-turn.
MT has his shortcomings like any other human being, but to ignore what this man has achieved is being hypocrites. I love Zimbabwe, and I am sure if we continue having a strong opposition in our country, isu the Povo will eventually benefit. Look now we have land.
Lets be noble and respect this man! After all over 30% of the voters love him.
Progressive Zimbabwean
Chenjera tsvangson vari kuda kukuteya, look out they might be spies, why sudden change of heart. We shoulg learn from mistakes mhani tsvangirai wavakuti bhowa manje!
This only happens in a lawless society like the Gukurahundi Republic. In South Africa, Mzansi former heads of State and government and their deputies are accorded certain previledges on leaving office, based on legislated requirements, not at the whims of the ruling elite at the time.
In the Gukurahundi Republic even lowly security officers can do as they wish with respect to a former Executive member or a main opposition leader with no reprisals, as happened to Dr Joshua Nkomo, when they entered his Phelandaba home, guns blazing. Nothing ever happened to those thugs just as nothing happened to those who crashed Tswangirayi’s skull in 2007!!
Security or no security…who cares. Vakarigger chete and havanyare nazvo. I don’t think anyone from MDC went and begged them to re-instate the security arrangement.
Reinstating the security for Chematama is meant to monitor all his movements.
vari kuda kuponjesa mota, he shld take extra care now
@hango yapalala…civilised world my foot where humans cannot chose mates properly unlike the wild animals
What is better 2 hv security priviledges when your followers or supporters ar insecure?It means u wl be a lonely survivor at our cost.Lets all feel insecure inorder 2 restore security.