Zimbabwe awoke warily on Tuesday after the country’s military chief warned the ruling Zanu PF to stop purging party members with a military background after sacking Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander Constantino Chiwenga told a press conference Monday afternoon, which was attended by the military generals, that Zimbabwe was suffering “distress, trepidation and despondence”.
He says, “What is obtaining in the revolutionary party is a direct result of the machinations of counter-revolutionaries who have infiltrated the party and whose agenda is to destroy it from within… It is our strong and deeply considered position that if drastic action is not taken immediately, our beloved country Zimbabwe is definitely headed to becoming a neo-colony again. The current purging and cleansing process in Zanu PF which so far is targeting mostly members associated with our liberation history is a serious cause for concern to us in the Defence Forces.”
“While our people may be persuaded to take what is going on in Zanu PF as internal political matters in that party, the truth remains that Zanu PF’s conduct and behaviour as a ruling party has a direct impact on the lives of every citizen, hence all of us regardless of political affiliation are affected by the party’s manner of doing business. From a security point of view, we cannot ignore the experiences of countries such as Somalia, DRC, Central Africa Republic and many others in our region, where minor political differences degenerated into serious conflict that has decimated the social, political and economic security of ordinary people.”
Chiwenga’s comments come after the G40 faction, reportedly supporting President Robert Mugabe’s wife Grace, has promised to purge all allies believed to be supporting the Lacoste faction, which is said to be sympathetic to Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa was sacked from both government and the party last week, and is currently in South Africa.
Chiwenga added that Section 22 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe mandated the country’s defence forces to protect Zimbabwe.
