ZIMBABWES army chiefs have raised the political antagonism in the unity government by declaring that they are ready to go to war to defend under-fire central bank governor Gideon Gono.
Only a day after the Movement for Democratic Change rejected President Robert Mugabes assertion that Gono could not be sacked, the army added its voice to the controversy.
Air Vice-Marshal Henry Muchena was quoted in the state- owned Herald newspaper yesterday as saying that the army was backing Gono.
Muchena said the army would not allow anyone to remove Gono from his post because that would be tantamount to negating the struggle for independence.
He claimed he was speaking on behalf of the military brass and the army was ready to take up arms to defend Gono.
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa weighed in with his assertion that removing Gono was an attempt to remove Mugabes Zanu(PF) party from power.
Matters came to a head on Sunday after Mugabe, 85, declared that Gono was not going to be relieved of his duties as called for by the MDC.
The MDC has asked the SADC and the AU to intervene, warning that Gonos continued stay at the central bank was hindering the countrys efforts to raise much-needed funds to revive the economy.
The Times (SA)
Post published in: News