MDC wants army, police reforms

The NSC held its maiden meeting last Thursday after service chiefs finally agreed to attend the council that they had boycotted because Tsvangirai and other former opposition officials are members.

MDC spokesmen declined to comment on the security sector reforms the party would push for saying they were sworn to secrecy on security matters. But insiders said the MDC would push the council to reform the army and police and turn them into truly professional forces that owe allegiance to the constitution and not political parties or individual leaders.

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said: I cannot comment on security issues, but I can refer you to the party manifesto to get our clear position on that matter.

But an MDC Senator said last Friday: We will ensure through the Security Council that never again shall the police be an instrument of fear or state oppression, but protects the citizens.

“We will push our colleagues in the Council to ensure that we reorient and transform the police to a service delivery force, one making impartial and non-partisan decisions or actions and developing a community-based policing strategy.

Transformation
He said the army and police and intelligence agency, CIO, would be transformed into a well-rewarded, non-partisan and professional service forces ready to protect the nation not terrorise or suppress the people.

The Zimbabwean on Sunday heard that the maiden meeting held at Zimbabwe House only dealt on formal introductions and pleasantries, but did not discuss any major issues, said a source.

But the meeting marked a major step in the troubled six-month old inclusive government between President Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.

Service chiefs have in the past shown utter contempt for the office of the Prime Minister, and openly refused to acknowledge his authority or salute him.

The NSC should have met monthly starting March but the service chiefs foiled all four previous meetings through excuses.

Mugabe was said to have chaired the meeting last Thursday, also attended by Vice President Joice Mujuru, Deputy Prime Ministers Mutambara and Thoko Khupe, Home Affairs minister Giles Mutsekwa, Minister of State Security in the President’s Office, Sydney Sekeremayi, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Misheck Sibanda, Finance minister Tendai Biti, Economic Planning minister Elton Mangoma, Ian Makone, the Prime Minister’s chief-of-staff.

All army generals attended the meeting and were sitted in one corner while bureaucrats occupied the rest of the room. Sekeremayi described the meting as “warm, cordial and inclusive.”

Optimism
Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara declined to discuss the meeting. “It was a security meeting and therefore I cant discuss it with you,” Mutambara said.

The maiden meeting renewed optimism brought by a unity government formed by rivals President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai last February, that finally the generals seemed ready to subject themselves to civilian command.

Political analyst Takura Zhangazha said last Thursday’s meeting was significant on the Zimbabwe political landscape. He said: “Its a change, the Security Council has replaced the JOC. Its a new configuration, a new security configuration that involves for the first time the MDC. Whether it will change how the security forces work, is another thing.”