via Generals at Zanu PF meeting ‘shocking’ – NewZimbabwe 15/12/2015 by Mlondolozi Ndlovu
OPPOSITION political parties have scoffed at the recent Zanu PF national conference and condemned the involvement of the military in the ruling party’s succession fights.
President Robert Mugabe, who is also the Zanu PF leader, warned members of the security services against meddling in the party’s affairs while addressing the conference which was held last week in Victoria Falls.
However, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which is led by Tendai Biti, described the conference as a “national tragedy”, adding that the presence of the military at the event was “shocking”.
PDP also noted that Mugabe’s admission that the securocrats need to stay away from politics vindicates the opposition parties’ calls for reform of the security services.
“What is shocking was the heavy military presence at the venue of a private function,” the party said in a statement.
“The presence of the top military brass as well as a large military deployment laid bare the thin arguments of the ruling party propaganda machinery which has dismissed the growing calls for security sector reforms.
“So bad is the situation with regard to security sector involvement in civilian affairs such that Robert Mugabe himself complained of the defence forces’ participation in the party’s factional fights”
PDP further questioned the military involvement in Zanu PF affairs saying if they were associated with the ruling party then they could also be associated with national politics, hence the need for “demilitarization” of government institutions.
“If the securocrats are so deeply involved in the Zanu PF wars, one wonders how involved they will be when the very national leadership question is at stake.
“We have always argued that in order for Zimbabwe to move forward politics and government institutions must be demilitarized and the sight of hundreds of soldiers carrying guns and manning various outposts to the (Zanu PF conference) venue is far from encouraging,” the party said.
Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe spokesperson, Pishayi Muchauraya, dismissed the ruling party conference as a “drain on the fiscus”.
“It was just a fiscus-draining venture meant to prop up Mugabe’s dynasty,” he said.
“No significant policy issues were raised save the admission by the aging dictator that state security agents were running the show. This explains why there were no resolutions at the end of the money spinning and hate-filled indaba.”
Muchauraya said while his party was not happy about military involvement in politics, Mugabe’s decision to reprimand the security forces in public was unfortunate.
“As RDZ we condemn Mugabe’s conduct as the Commander in Chief of the national security forces to call a political party rally/conference to pronounce threats to the security forces.
“He (Mugabe) should use proper channels to communicate his displeasure. Such behaviour would, under normal circumstances, result in him losing the respect of the force and compromises national stability.”
ZAPU spokesperson Mjobisa Noko said the Zanu PF meeting was not going to solve the country’s economic challenges since the ruling party has nothing new to offer 35 years after independence.
On the security sector involvement in Zanu PF affairs, Noko said the constitution is clear in that they must remain apolitical, adding that the statements by Mugabe were a sign that military involvement was beginning to “bite Zanu PF”.
“The security services should never involve themselves in the politics of the country,” said Noko.
“The constitution is very clear on that. But in Zimbabwe there has been no distinction between Zanu PF and the government, hence the military involvement in Zanu PF affairs is beginning to bite them.
“When we spoke against this they thought we are mad.”
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