Chamisa reminds army, you are not an extension of Zanu PF
By Gracious Nyathi
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has reminded soldiers in Zimbabwe that they are there to serve the nation and not act like an extension of Zanu PF.
The military and the police who make up the security forces in Zimbabwe have largely been accused of taking sides with Zanu PF.
According to various political commentators, the close ties between Zanu PF and the military was exposed when the soldiers involved themselves in party business through Operation Restore Legacy which removed Robert Mugabe.
The soldiers are police have also been summoned to crush demonstrations by opposition parties and civic society organisations.
However, in his Defence Forces Day commemoration speech, Chamisa said the force should desist from engaging in partisan activities.
‘’You are not an extension or organ of any party, you should stand for the country and not a party, you stand for Zimbabwe and not a political establishment or institution.
‘’…you are patriots, patriotism is none partisan it does not belong to any party, it can’t be monopolized by a political party,” he said.
Chamisa added that the army is above party politics and should therefore protect the nation’s dignity and sovereignty and not the interests of politicians.
“You do this for the benefit of your beloved country and not for the benefit of any politician or political leader, politicians come and go but you are a permanent citizen institution, ” he said.
On 1 August 2018, six people were killed after the army was deployed in Harare to curb protests following alleged delays in announcing Presidential elections results by the Zimbabwe electoral commission (ZEC).
Similarly, in January of 2019 heavily armed soldiers were deployed to deal with civilians during an anti-fuel price hike stay away.
A report by the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) reveals that state militarization has worsened in the Second Republic which is led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission together with civic society organizations have castigated the army for being weaponized by the Zanu PF-led government.
Chamisa reminds army, you are not an extension of Zanu PF
