There were more embarrassing sycophantic mantras from the security establishment last week when police recruits at a pass-out parade were made to chant praises to President Robert Mugabe, who was the guest of honour at the event.
Without any doubt taking after their boss Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri who has not held back from flaunting his political credentials the recruits chanted in unison that Mugabe was a God-chosen leader.
They recited the all-too-familiar Zanu PF refrain to remind the European Union and its allies that they can rule the rest of the world but not Zimbabwe anymore. There is all the evidence that police training now incorporates high-level indoctrination which is part of a project to keep Mugabe in office.
The project has been given accent by the senior security personnel who now see every key military gathering as an opportunity to advertise their allegiance to Mugabe and Zanu PF.
Only two weeks ago, Zimbabwe National Army Chief of Staff (Administration) Major General Trust Mugoba let out a key part of this project. He said the military would not respect any leader who does not respect the revolution and then made an unnerving threat.
We will not even allow them to go into office because they do not represent the ideology we fought for. As the military establishment, we have an ideology that is represented in the mission of Zanu PF, he said.
This has a chilling effect on the electorate as it conveys the message that the outcome of the elections which Mugabe has said should be held before the end of the year does not really matter; securocrats will determine who takes over the reins of power.
Mugobas statement and earlier ones by other four-star generals in this country come at a time when the army is on a massive illegal recruitment exercise.
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While the military bosses will argue that there is nothing amiss about the exercise as the military establishment from time to time recruits to compensate the effects of natural attrition, what is worrying is that the young trainees will be trained from a manual hewn from mission of Zanu PF.
Police recruits have already advertised to us what they are learning during training. The most unfortunate part of this is that Mugabe does not appear to be worried about this unethical conduct by the officers and men in the security establishment. He needs the army to fulfil his political project.
And more worrying to ordinary Zimbabweans is an attempt by Zanu PF in its 29-page document smuggled into Copac to allow the army to freely campaign for the former sole ruling party in the new constitution. But is this the legacy Mugabe wants?
Does he want to be remembered as a founding father of the nation who in his twilight years had to rely on the heavy hand of the security establishment for political support?
Great leaders are those who derive their political power from civilian support. Mugabe should therefore be reminded that bully-boy tactics of the security establishment can never be a substitute for popular support.
Now everyone understands why Zanu PF has resisted reform in the security sector. It is the only weapon the party has to stay in office notwithstanding the results of national elections.
