Saviour Kasukuwere
The justification for Operation Restore Legacy was that it was meant to target criminals around former President, Robert Mugabe whom the army said were a threat to national stability.
However, soon after Operation Restore Legacy was lunched, CiZC quickly pointed out that the so called was a military coup, with politicians having hijacked the army to push for personal interests.
CiZC was quick to reiterate that Zimbabwe had been plunged into a constitutional crisis hence the need for a return to constitutional order.
In acquitting Kasukuwere, who was facing charges of illegally exiting the country, a Harare Magistrate conceded that Kasukuwere’s life was indeed under threat from members of the military who had launched Operation Restore Legacy.
This adds on to reports of gunshots which were fired at the home of Jonathan Moyo while there were also violent scenes at former Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo.
Though unconfirmed, there were reports of deaths as the military descended on loyalists of former President Mugabe.
What further confirms that Operation Restore Legacy was a military coup is the fact that since the ushering in of the so called new dispensation, there has been continued militarization of key state institutions since the ascendancy of President Emmerson Mnangagwa to power with the assistance of the military.
As Zimbabwe heads towards watershed elections set to be held on July 30, 2018, there is concern among opposition parties and other stakeholders over the militarization of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. There are also reports of the army being deployed to campaign for the ruling party, Zanu (PF) in rural areas.
To make matters worse, senior Zanu (PF) politicians including Presidential Advisor, Christopher Mutsvangwa and Finance deputy Minister, Terrence Mukupe having publicly confirmed that the ruling party enjoys the support of the army and can never be dislodged from power.
CiZC implores the army to respect the country’s supreme law which bars them from participating in partisan politics. More importantly, we implore the army to publicly renounce previous sentiments by senior army officials who have on numerous occasions declared their allegiance to Zanu (PF) while threatening to block opposition rule in the country.
As Zimbabwe heads towards the July 2018 polls, CiZC remains wary over the continued involvement of the army in the country’s electoral issues.
Post published in: Featured