The first ever meeting between the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and the countrys service chiefs is set for Harare on Thursday. The National Security Council (NSC), which was constituted six months ago upon the establishment of the inclusive government, will have its first meeting in the capital following several failed attempts.The NSC replaces the shadowy Joint Operations Command (JOC), a committee of the service chiefs said by analysts to be the real power behind Robert Mugabe. Parliament passed the National Security Council Bill in February which analysts believe, once its up and running, will trim the excessive powers of the countrys security chiefs.
Since the formation of the unity government there has been fierce resistance to the formal constituting of the NSC among the service chiefs, who see the establishment of the new security organ as a threat to their hitherto unchallenged power.
Curiously, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa was in Parliament on Wednesday briefing MPs that the structure of the Defence Act was such that, the service chiefs were only obliged to salute their commander-in-chief, Robert Mugabe.
MDC MP for Makoni Central, John Nyamande who has waited six months for Mnangagwa to answer this question said the Defence Minister stressed that the generals were not obligated to salute Tsvangirai or the Vice-Presidents.
The Minister told us the generals are not forced to salute the Prime Minister, but can do so as a matter of courtesy, Nyamande said. The Makoni Central MP viewed this as a pre-emptive announcement by Mnangagwa, to help insulate the generals should they decide not to salute Tsvangirai.
Dr Knox Chitiyo, head of the Africa programme at the UK based Royal United Services Institute, an independent think tank on Defence and Security said Thursdays meeting would be an ice-breaker for all parties.
Yes theres going to be tension in the room because of what has happened in the past. But I dont think the issue of the chiefs saluting Tsvangirai or Mutambara is really a big issue on the table tomorrow, Dr Chitiyo said.
He added; The meeting tomorrow will be an ice-breaker between the parties. I think its going to be mutual, respectful and more of introductions than discussing policy issues.
The NSC consists of Mugabe as chairperson, his two deputies Joice Mujuru and Joseph Msika; Tsvangirai and his deputies Arthur Mutambara and Thokozani Khupe; Finance Minister Tendai Biti, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the two Home Affairs Ministers Giles Mutsekwa and Kembo Mohadi.
Significantly, the service chiefs are relegated to the role of ex-officio members of the council. The service chiefs are Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga, army Commander Lt General Phillip Sibanda, Air Marshall Perence Shiri and the Commissioner-General of Police, Augustine Chihuri.
The Commissioner of Prisons Retired Major-General Paradzai Zimondi and the Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation, Happyton Bonyongwe, also sit on the council.
Post published in: News