Addressing a public discussion on the elections recently, Elton Mangoma, representing MDC-T, and Priscilla Misihairambwi-Mushonga, from the MDC-N faction, agreed that security commanders must make a public show of their neutrality.
The commanders of the security forces have in the past said they would not back a leader without liberation war credentials and have gone on to publicly state their allegiance to Zanu (PF).
“We cannot have elections before the security people have said publicly that they will respect the will of the people,” Misihairambwi-Mushonga said.
Security sector reform continues to be contentious among the three parties in the Government of National Unity with senior Zanu (PF) officials saying the sector is untouchable while the two MDC parties continue to insist that reform is a prerequisite for a credible poll.
Mangoma said resolving issues around media reform and the security sector was important in order to inspire confidence in the people of Zimbabwe.
“The generals must come out publicly and say that regardless of who is voted in, they will respect the will of the people,” Mangoma said.
Misihairabwi-Mushonga also expressed her confidence in the SADC mediation team, saying the regional bloc had now adopted a tough stance on the Zimbabwean.
“There has been a shift in SADC. The SADC of the 2005 to 2008 era is long gone; they have now become very tough,” she said.
The mediation efforts of former South African President Thabo Mbeki were viewed by some as soft and Mbeki was accused of siding with Mugabe.
The two MDCs are on record saying that the partisan conduct of the army, police force and Central Intelligence Organisation is evidence that security sector reform is urgently required. The two parties have been insisting that there is need to rein in the security chiefs, whom they accuse of deviating from their mandate to serve the people.
Post published in: News