ZANU-PF yesterday described as “treasonous” statements by
Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantino Chiwenga that the
military will not hesitate to take corrective measures when they felt the gains
of the liberation struggle were under threat.
The party’s national
spokesperson, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, said Gen Chiwenga’s utterances were meant
to incite insurrection and violent challenge to the constitutional order. Cde
Khaya Moyo said Gen Chiwenga’s utterances did not represent the rest of the
command element and were meant to disturb national peace and stability.
“Consistent with the guiding principle of the national
liberation struggle, the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front
(Zanu-PF) reaffirms the primacy of politics over the gun.
“It is against an understanding of this abiding principle
that the statement issued by General Constantino Chiwenga purporting to speak
on behalf of the Zimbabwe Defences Forces (ZDF) was not only surprising, but
was an outrageous vitiation of professional soldiership and his wartime record
as a high-ranking freedom fighter entrusted with command responsibilities in a
free democratic Zimbabwe,’’ Cde Khaya Moyo said. The statement, Cde Khaya Moyo
said, was designed to disturb the prevailing peace.
“Clearly calculated to disturb national peace and
stability, the said statement by General Constantino Chiwenga which was not
signed, and which did not represent the rest of the command element, suggests
treasonable conduct on his part as this was meant to incite insurrection and
violent challenge to the constitutional order,” Cde Khaya Moyo said.
“Indeed, this is what happens when the gun seeks to
overreach by dictating to politics and norms of constitutionality,” he added.
Zanu-PF, Cde Khaya Moyo said, would never submit to threats.
“As the party running the democratically elected Government
of Zimbabwe, Zanu-PF will never succumb to any threats, least of all those
driving from conduct that is inconsistent with the tenets of democracy and
constitutionalism,” he said.
“Not too far back, the President and First Secretary of
Zanu-PF, Cde R.G. Mugabe, who is also Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe
Defence Forces, reminded members of the uniformed forces of their subordinate
place and role vis-à-vis the political authority of the land.”
He went on: “By yesterday’s reprehensible conduct, it would
appear that this wise counsel not only went unheeded but was flagrantly flouted
in deference to factional politics and personal ambitions.
“Such conduct stands unreservedly condemned not only in the
party but also in our Southern African region and the entire African continent
where subversion of constitutional authority is frowned upon and regarded as an
absolute anathema,” Cde Khaya Moyo said. Herald
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