Mugabe, Parly sing different hymns over service chiefs

via Mugabe, Parly sing different hymns over service chiefs – NewsDay Zimbabwe December 14, 2015

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s berating of the country’s security chiefs at the 15th Zanu PF conference in Victoria Falls on Friday has come at a time Parliament is set to debate a motion to appreciate their role in the country’s socio-economic and political development.

by VENERANDA LANGA

The motion, which was tabled in the Order Paper by Chegutu East MP Webster Shamu (Zanu PF), will be seconded by Mutasa South MP Irene Zindi (Zanu PF) and is set to be introduced when the National Assembly resumes sitting tomorrow.

The notice to the motion reads: “Aware of the fact that the Zimbabwe Security Services are a product of the armed liberation struggle, and acknowledging that the Zimbabwe Security Services are the vanguard of the country’s peace, security and sovereignty.

“Noting that the Zimbabwe Security Services have maintained and contributed to peace both within and beyond the country’s borders through their peace-keeping missions, we are alarmed by the lack of appreciation of the role that the Zimbabwe Security Services played and continue to play in the socio-political and economic development of Zimbabwe and Africa from some quarters of the local and international community.”

The Zanu PF legislators also want Zimbabwe to recognise the role played by Mugabe and service chiefs in defending the country’s territorial integrity and raising the country’s flag high during the United Nations peace-keeping missions across the world.

Yet, Mugabe criticised and ordered them to stop dabbling in Zanu PF politics and factional fights on Friday.

“The military, police and the intelligence are now involved and split as well. Let’s stop this. We do not want factions. Nobody has people. We are all Zanu PF,” Mugabe said during his party’s conference.

Opposition parties have repeatedly called for security sector reforms, accusing the “securocrats” of dabbling in Zanu PF politics in contravention of the country’s governance charter.

In the past elections, security chiefs have made declarations to the effect that they will not salute any leader without liberation war credentials, in apparent reference to opposition MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai.