UTTERANCES by Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa this week that the MDC-T and progressive Zimbabweans calling for security sector reforms wanted to reverse the gains of Independence and that they were threatening national security are not only laughable, but warped thinking desired to maintain an undesired equilibrium.
NewsDay Editorial
Mnangagwa, like many of his colleagues in Zanu PF, confuses party interests with national security interests. They live in fairyland.
In a paper on Zimbabwe’s Defence Policy at the National Defence College in Harare on Monday, Mnangagwa said: “As long as we are here in leadership, we will make sure the Defence Forces of the Republic of Zimbabwe will continue to defend the national interests and to safeguard our values and ideals which our people died for,” he said. Mnangagwa said those advocating for security sector reforms were trying to bring about regime change in Zimbabwe.
“The current government is anxious to reform you. Anxious with security sector reforms! They do not want to have a Defence Forces that is knowledgeable, focused and revolutionary. We are against it.
“The Defence forces are an element of national power, but the inclusive government does not want to hear that. They would want a kind of defence force that is pliant to foreign interests, that allows expropriation of national resources without question.
“They want to hear that you are compliant, that you accept security sector reforms. What does that mean? It means to have non-governmental organisations and trade unions operating in the Defence Forces. Pasi nazvo! They would want you to say you are non-political, you must serve any government.”
We have no doubt that Mnangagwa is confusing the security of the nation state with that of his Zanu PF party. Dictatorial parties, such as that of Mnangagwa, the world over often confuse national security with political party security.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
To the extent that the MDC-T and Morgan Tsvangirai are a potent political force that has caused sleepless nights to Zanu PF, the party and its leader are easily perceived to be a threat to the personal interests of the main power brokers in Zanu PF.
The need for security sector reforms is more urgent than the constitution-making process if we are to have free and fair elections. A constitution alone without institutional reforms is no guarantee for free and fair elections.
Zimbabweans are aware of how partisan the security sector is. Their wish is to see security personnel who dabble in politics resign and concentrate on politics.
We also need the reforms to restore professionalism in the police, army and the intelligence. Service chiefs, generals and senior officers who cannot remain apolitical should be eased out.
The cry of Zimbabweans is to have service chiefs, the army, the police and State spies subordinate to civilian rule. Certainly, this is not a threat to national security. It is what happens in all democratic states. Zimbabweans will not be fooled over such crass deception!
