PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday disclosed that he had on
several occasions clashed with a section of Cabinet ministers led by
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa over how to deal with capital punishment,
which he said should be retained on the statutes to allow for the hanging of
some convicted murderers.
In a speech to mark Heroes Day commemorations at the
National Heroes Acre, Mugabe also appealed to the public to take up the
hangman’s post, which has remained vacant for over two decades.
“We are still debating whether to remove capital
punishment. My Cabinet is divided about that and Mnangagwa wants it to be
removed, but we are still considering. We now have many people on the death
row,” Mugabe said.
Mnangagwa, who doubles as Justice minister, is on record
describing capital punishment as inhuman and wants it abolished.
“We are failing to get a hangman. If there is anyone brave,
they should apply and we will appoint,” Mugabe said yesterday.
The death penalty has remained a controversial issue in
Zimbabwe and the new Constitution exempts women murderers from execution while
only allowing for certain male criminals to be hanged.
Meanwhile, Mugabe, who is preparing for re-election in next
year’s general elections, said his government was contemplating setting up a
new fund to cater for the welfare of war veterans, as most were living in a
sorry state.
“We should create a huge fund to assist war veterans and
their dependants. (Finance minister Patrick) Chinamasa is failing to raise
enough revenue for all this due to the dwindling tax base,” he said.
Mugabe said they will also consider having the rich donate
to such a fund.
“I know some people have money. The rich should come
forward and donate to the fund. We need that fund to help families of war
veterans,” he said.
Currently, war veterans are being catered for under the War
Veterans ministry headed by Tshinga Dube. In 1997, war veterans caused a major
economic haemorrhage after the government succumbed to pressure and paid them a
whopping ZW$50 000 one-off payment each under the hastily-organised
arrangement.
Mugabe also called on the military and police to be more
disciplined and learn to co-exist.
This follows a recent incident where soldiers and police
clashed in Harare’s central business district after traffic police reportedly
clamped an army truck.
Mugabe said soon after the incident, he summoned top
military and police bosses to his office and read the riot act.
“If soldiers and police are working at cross-purposes, how
will they be able to stop civilians working at cross-purposes when they
(security services) are doing the same?” the President further said. Newsday
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