Generals in the Zimbabwean Defence Forces have come out guns blazing threatening that any further protests against President Mugabe's government will be met with the army's interference.
Speaking at a Press conference to mark the 36th anniversary of the ZDF Day Commemorations to be held today, the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantino Guveya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga said the ZDF has been watching events in the country which have a serious potential to disturb the peace.
“These have to stop and people must focus on developmental programmes. The history of this country cannot, and will never be rewritten.”
“The African proverb which says, ‘hakuna zuva rinobuda rimwe risati ranyura’ holds true, because no nation can ever have two leaders at any one time. Therefore, the ZDF will never accept any unconstitutional change of Government and we stand firm and unequivocal by the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the ZDF, his Excellency Mugabe,” he said.
Gen Chiwenga who was flanked by Air Force Commander Air Marshal Perrance Shiri, Zimbabwe National Army Commander Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda and six other generals went on to claim that the army remains indipendent from politics.
He said to date the threat has manifested itself by way of psychological warfare, intrusive political interference, diplomatic isolation and socio-cultural intrusion.
“It is the ZDF’s hope, therefore, that the internal component of this asymmetric threat to the country will take heed and desist from these divisive activities for the betterment of the whole nation,” he said.
He said recent events in Zimbabwe clearly demonstrate that State institutions, socio-political systems and even territories can now equally be threatened by manipulation of ideas through the use of social media giving an example of a communiqué attributed to a war veterans which he said was a clear illustration of social media by the fifth column and its quislings.
Gen Chiwenga said investigations were underway on the matter and culprits will face the full wrath of the law saying the ZDF will work with other security services to ensure that effects of certain information, ideas and concepts that infiltrate into the population depict what is in line with the preservation of Zimbabwe’s values, vision and culture.
- Herald
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