This is a clear abuse of office. They have no right to do this, and such silly instructions should be ignored. Members of the uniformed services should be free to choose whomsoever he or she wishes to vote for.
Every citizen should vote for a candidate of his or her choice. That is what free and fair elections are all about- the freedom to choose. If the winning candidate is to be chosen only by these pompous, be-medalled, praise-singers what is the point in having elections at all.
We are pleased to see that the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) has been quick to condemn the reckless statements made by the Defence Forces Chief and Retired Major- General Paradzayi Zimondi and others.
As the NCA correctly points out, Zimondi, who is paid from our taxes, is not allowed to make political statements. The Herald of 29 February quotes Zimondi as saying: I am giving you an order to vote for President Mugabe and do not be distracted.
Zimondi parroted his master’s voice when he said supporting Simba Makoni or Morgan Tsvangirai was tantamount to supporting former colonial master Britain.
Most Zimbabweans are, as indeed they should be, appalled at such idiotic pronouncements by people in such positions of power and authority. Let us not forget that the reason they make such self-serving statements is because they have amassed huge wealth at the expense of ordinary Zimbabweans, whose average life expectancy is now the lowest in the world.
We notice The Herald was quick to fan the false fears that Makoni and Tsvangirai would give the farms back to the white commercial farmers. Both these other candidates have clear policies for handling the land reform issue – without the corruption, violence and the chaos that has marred Mugabe’s handling of it.
The heart of the matter is that these men are terrified of losing their ill-gotten gains. They believe, erroneously, that the re-election of Mugabe as president will protect them and their riches. How wrong they are! Already the moths of inflation have eaten more than half of their wealth.
Post published in: Football