The meeting was conducted under the guise of a Traditional Leaders Day commemoration but sources said the gathering was engineered to discuss political strategies for Zanu (PF) ahead of a general election.
The chiefs allegedly had a five hour meeting with the Commander of 3 Brigade, Eliah Bandama, top army officials and some Zanu (PF) provincial executive officials including secretary for Administration, Kenneth Saruchera, to discuss possible ways to drum up support for the party.
“Chiefs continue to be used as tools of oppression by Zanu (PF) and the army.
We don’t see any reason why the chiefs should commemorate their day at the army barracks. There are three political parties in the coalition, why were they not invited?” said Claude Makina from the Institute of Peace and Democracy.
A senior army officer who declined to be named said the point of the meeting was to discuss possible ways that the army and chiefs can collaborate ahead of elections.
Post published in: News