Under the unity deal signed up to by both ZANU PF and the MDC, it was
agreed that all security personnel driving state owned cars supplied by
the Central Mechanical and Engineering Department (CMED), have to
undergo special training first.
But as our correspondent Lionel Saungweme reports, things are not going
according to plan with what seems like a deliberate attempt to retain
security personnel loyal to ZANU PF. The exact numbers involved are not
known but with over 15 MDC ministers and deputies requiring protection,
the number of trainees could be well over 20.
MDC ministers in the coalition government have so far refused to speak
to Newsreel about the issue, claiming they are bound by the Official
Secrets Act. But one senior official, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, told us he knew of two security agents from the party who
had just failed the training and have to go back for retraining'.
It's not clear so far what the training involves, although we know some
of the drills are being done near Harare's Glamis Stadium. The MDC
security guys are being failed mostly when it comes to driving drills
and this is crucial to them being allowed to escort our VIP's,' the
source told us.
Following the tragic accident which killed Susan Tsvangirai, the wife
of Prime Minister Tsvangirai, the security for party officials has
become a sensitive issue. Several other accidents involving officials
and ministers, like Sam Sipepa Nkomo and Gorden Moyo, have raised
eyebrows. Some weeks ago a Toyota Vigo, said to be owned by Deputy
Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe, was involved in a serious accident
along the Harare-Bulawayo road. Khupe's mother sustained head injuries
while a passenger, believed to be her employee, died in the crash. The
accident happened when a Santana vehicle, a type normally used by the
police, suddenly made a U-turn in front of Khupe's car resulting in the
crash.
The election of Lovemore Moyo from the MDC as speaker of parliament
last year is said to have initially triggered the debate over whether
senior MDC people going into government should get state protection.
Moyo was given a Mercedes Benz vehicle by the CMED, plus bodyguards
provided by the state. Many party activists felt uncomfortable with
this arrangement.
Several weeks ago Moyo sent his driver from Harare to Bulawayo with the
new government-issued Mercedes, but it suffered two burst front tyres
according to reports. That was a brand new vehicle, with brand new
tyres, there is something amiss,' a party official said.
Former ZANU PF Secretary General Edgar Tekere wrote in his book that
the only reason he survived several assassination attempts, was because
he drove his own cars.
SWRadio Africa
Post published in: News