Morgan Tsvangirai
Since the formation of the main opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change, senior military personnel are on record that they will not allow the ascendancy of opposition members to the Presidency.
Prior to the 2002 Presidential elections, Zimbabwe’s Military Chief, the late Vitalis Zvinavashe publicly announced that they will not allow opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai to run the country even if he wins elections.
Zvinavashe was supported by service chiefs who included Army Commander and now Vice President, Constantine Chiwenga, Air Force Chief and now Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Perrence Shiri and the then Police Commissioner General, Augustine Chihuri.
The Crisis Report tracks the record of the army as well as police involvement in elections;
January 2002– Defence Forces Chief, Vitalis Zvinavashe warned journalists against reporting on the army’s actions including their involvement in politics and elections
August 2007– Prisons Boss, Paradzai Zimhondi said he would take up arms and fight if Mugabe loses the 2008 elections
March 2008- The then police Commissioner General, Augustine Chihuri in a statement aimed at the late MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai and Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn leader Simba Makoni said, “This must serve as warning to puppets. We will not allow any puppets to take charge.”
March 2008– Defence Forces Commander, Constantine Chiwenga threatened to overthrow the constitutional order if President Mugabe lost the 2008 elections.
He said, “Elections are coming up and the army will not support or salute sell-outs and agents of the West before, during and after the Presidential elections. We will not support any one other than President Mugabe who has sacrificed a lot for the country.
When asked about the role of the army in democracy, Chiwenga said, “Are you mad? What is wrong about the army supporting the President against the election of sell-outs?”
April 2008– A report by Human Rights Watch accused the Zimbabwean Military of being responsible for political violence in rural areas and revealed that the army was supplying arms and trucks to paramilitary groups aligned to Zanu (PF)
On the eve of the bloody June 2008 run-off election, Lieutenant General Rugeje who was deployed in Masvingo said the army will drive people to polling stations to ensure they vote for President Mugabe, “We are soldiers. We do not ask for things but we force things. On Friday, we are going to make sure that you go and vote, not for any person of your choice but for President Mugabe. I am not asking you to do so but will force you to go and vote.”
2009– Defence Forces Commander, Constantine Chiwenga said they will not allow the MDC-T to take over-even if they win elections- because the party was foreign driven.
February 2011– A report by the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) revealed that the military and war veterans were leading a violent crusade against opposition party supporters in rural areas. The report announced that Douglas Nyikayaramba, who was Brigadier General by then, had warned chiefs that they will have a case to answer if President Mugabe loses the 2013 elections.
January 2012– Major General Douglas Nyikayaramba described MDC-T leader and then Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai as a national security threat and suggested that the military should step in and deal with him
December 2013– The then Police Commissioner General, Augustine Chihuri said himself and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) were not apologetic for supporting the ruling party, Zanu (PF) and implored police officers to ensure Zanu (PF’s) continued to stay in power
March 2014– Air Force of Zimbabwe Boss, Perrence Shiri celebrated Zanu (PF’s) victory and announced that the MDC-T (which he labelled as a party of puppets) was sliding into extinction. Shiri was speaking at the burial of the late Wing Commander Brian Muchenje
January 2018– Zanu (PF) Political Commissar, Rt Lt General Engelbert Rugeje laid bare the army’s involvement in elections in a warning to Gutu villagers. He narrated his involvement in politics while he was still a member of the Zimbabwe National Army and said, “We are getting towards important elections this year. I came here in 2008 when things were bad. I don’t know where Masvingo had got this spirit and I came and sorted things out. I came back again in 2013 and led the campaign team and I moved around the province addressing rallies and the results were impressive.”
December 2016– Masvingo Minister of State, Josiah Hungwe threatened to deploy the army if Zanu (PF) loses the 2018 elections. He said, “Yes we can go to war. We can hire our army. Our soldiers can come in to help us. Don’t forget what Rugeje (then Lieutenant General) did in Masvingo in 2008. We can call him again in 2018.”
December 2017– Presidential Advisor, Chris Mutsvangwa said, “We are going to campaign for Zanu (PF) along with our army which is the best in the world and also traditional leaders”
Recent reports of the army campaigning for Zanu (PF) in rural areas, as well as the continued militarization of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), are disturbing and certainly take away prospects of free, fair and credible polls.
Post published in: Featured
A valuable list for the rest of the world, at least for those who care, but it is lost for those citizens astute enough to think for themselves and vote to better the nation. None of those in power will answer for their statements. War gave them power, and none will allow that war to end because it ends their power.
That Zim is, and has been, under a military dictatorship is indisputable. That ZANUPF rules with a gun is indisputable. That the people are slaves is indisputable. Zim is nothing but a slave camp. So much for the argument that Zim is free and democratic. That foreign investments would be at risk is indisputable. That Western investors and governments are not stupid is a FACT.
The involvement of the military personnel into politics was started at 2 brigade soon after the formation of the MDC in 2000 and was chaired by the then brigadier Nyakakayaranba where soldiers were forced to do Zanu pf slogan. None liberation war veterans soldiers were a disgruntled lot and there was nothing at all that they could do but to listen to
Nyikayaramba’s nonsense.
Within a short space of time during the same year after that meeting at 2 brigade,the names of soldiers to participate in politics were released and it was composed of mostly war veterans who were still serving in the army and just a few none liberation war veterans and it was known as,”the army staff duties “,(A.S.D).
The mandate of the a.s.d was to intimidate the electorate into believing that if they don’t vote for Zanu pf,there will be war in Zimbabwe. They were assigned to check on soldiers who would attend M.D.C rallies and submit the list to field security at 2 brigade. This field security at 2 brigade is a department in Zimbabwe Military Intelligence based at 2 brigade. Victims could be sent there and dealt with ruthlessly,that’s torture and beatings. It was a tough time serving in the army during the period 2000 to date.
Zanu pf meetings were organized in the military camps where Zanu pf slogan was introduced and the army lost it’s professionalism. I still remember a few names of the soldiers deployed for that purpose and they are getting their salaries handsomely and some of them were given residential stands for a job well done by the then minister of local government Ignatius Chombo.
They are still deployed as I normally see some them in the rural areas and urban areas as well.
Having said the above,the army should not hide by it’s finger I know some of the deployed soldiers by names and the units that they’re still serving under.