The Financial Gazette reported on Thursday that Justice Chinembiri Bhunu
issued the interim order last Friday, following the filing of an application
by Buhera West MDC MP elect Eric Matinenga.
Matinenga had petitioned the High court to act against the deployment of
troops after the 29th March elections, saying the presence of soldiers in
rural areas, particularly in his constituency, was unconstitutional and
violated the provisions of the Defence Act.
Members of the Defence forces, aided by Zanu-PF militias and war veterans,
have caused mayhem in rural areas where they have displaced over 50 000
villagers from their homes. 50 MDC activists have also been killed in the
state sponsored violence that erupted after the elections.
Both the army and the regime deny the presence of soldiers in rural areas,
but Matinenga was able to identify serving soldiers who came and disrupted
his victory celebrations in Buhera West.
In his application, Matinenga, who was represented by Innocent Changonda and
Chris Mhike of Artherston and Cook, names members of the army and where they
have been deployed in his constituency.
‘On 13 April, 2008, I attended a victory celebration party in my
constituency. Members of the defence forces appeared and interfered with the
celebrations. I confronted them and one of them, who I believed to be the
leader of the group by the name of Major Sosve, told me that we were not
supposed to be hosting the celebrations. He told me that he did not
recognise and respect an MDC victory,’ Matingenga wrote.
The MDC claims it has information that about 200 senior army personal were
deployed in and around the country to campaign and mobilise for Robert
Mugabe.
A retired army Colonel Bernard Matongo, said while the court ruling looks
like good news he doubts the defence forces commander has the power to order
his forces out of the rural areas.
‘First of all it was an executive decision to order them into the rural
areas, so their commander-in-chief, Robert Mugabe, is the only one with the
power to order them back to the barracks. And I don’t see that happening
because he badly wants to win this election at all costs, even by killing or
maiming people. He doesn’t care,’ Matongo said.
SWRadio Africa
Post published in: News