DEFENCE deputy minister Victor Matemadanda (VM) says
security sector reforms are not necessary because it is comprised of people who
fought in the war of liberation.
In a wide ranging interview with our senior reporter
Blessed Mhlanga (ND) on Defence Forces Day, Matemadanda, who is also secretary
general of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, claimed
the August 1 shootings last year and the killing of at least 17 people during
the January fuel price hike protests were caused by people who wanted to portray
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government as not respecting human rights. Below
are the excerpts of the
interview:
ND: What is the role of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF)?
VM: Independence is precious; we got it through the loss of
lives of the young, old men and women who sacrificed their lives for the
liberation of this country. Once we got that independence, it must now be
preserved and protected, a duty undertaken by the ZDF. Territorial integrity
and the provision of security of Zimbabwe has to be proffered by the ZDF. For
that reason, they must be honoured because they continue to portray and give a
heroship that you have seen, for example, what they did during the Cyclone Idai
ordeal.
ND: What do you say to those who view the ZDF as an enemy
when we look, for instance, at the August 1 and January shootings?
VM: That is a very unfortunate situation well-orchestrated
by violence perpetrators, who wanted such a situation so that Zimbabwe is
portrayed as a country
that does not respect human lives. There are many things
that happened on that day.
ND: Does Zimbabwe respect human lives?
VM: Yes, it does. This is why we fought for the emancipation
and continuation of the protection of human lives in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately, there are some who believe that democracy
means ultraism, where they can do whatever they want despite it being wrong.
These people have to respect the rights of others. Once they refuse to respect
other people’s rights, they will be violating the Constitution. It is just
unfortunate that the occurrence of August 1 took place although no one had
wished for it. We had gone through the elections without a single incident of violence.
ND: You have been talking about security sector reforms; is
there anything that is happening on that front?
VM: Why do we need to reform something that is still
functional and okay? Why do we need to reform a security system that is able to
fulfil its mandate? Remember, this security sector is composed of people who
sacrificed their time and lives for the freedom this country is enjoying. There
is, therefore, no one with the moral right to tell those that liberated the
country how they should protect it.
ND: Are you not slowly becoming what you fought against
under former President Robert Mugabe’s regime.
VM: We never wanted the rights to destroy other people’s
properties. We were, in fact, promoting the rule of law and fighting against
lawlessness, which were
being perpetrated by the team that surrounded the former
President.
ND: One of the liberation heroes has indicated that he does
not want to be buried here at the National Heroes Acre, what can you say to
that?
VM: You have to ask the hero the reason behind his
indication. It is his right to say he wants to be buried wherever; that
decision solely depends on the
individual.
ND: For someone who has buried so many other heroes here,
what do you think his decision implies?
VM: Only that person can answer the question on why he
refuses to be buried at a place where he has buried many others. Newsday
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