Tsvangirai, Idi Amin and security sector reform 07/06/2013 00:00:00 by Thamsanqa Zhou Patriotism questioned ... Morgan Tsvangirai RELATED STORIES A LOT has been written and said about the role of security sector in Zimbabwe before, during and post elections. Although the new constitution that came into effect on May 22, 2013, demands neutrality of the army and the police, the public pronouncements by the generals and police commissioner leave many outside President Robert Mugabe’s party wondering if the army is prepared to not only accept but protect a democratic will of the Zimbabwean electorate, in the event that Zanu PF loses elections. There is no doubt that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party are worthy challengers and despite flip flopping, abusing the goodwill of the people and failing to deliver in the unity government especially considering corruption by MDC councillors and Tsvangirai’s compromising private issues with women. The reasons are clear. The majority of Zimbabweans see Zanu PF and Mugabe as a liability in reviving brand Zimbabwe and re-connecting as a respected partner among the community of nations. So it is still possible for Tsvangirai to be the chief beneficiary of the protest vote or the “Let’s remove Mugabe and deal with Tsvangirai later” mantra. Many Zimbabweans look at the attitude of the army generals who have consistently argued that Tsvangirai does not meet the test of patriotism and is not worth their salute in disgust. The perception may be that Tsvangirai, in choosing not to fight in the war of liberation, in aligning with the displaced white farmers and in relying on the support of the West and former colonial power, Britain through sanctions, he worked “against national interests.” I am one of those who believes that the security sector should at all times unconditionally be subordinate to the civilian leadership. I still want to think that this will still be the case whatever the outcome of Zimbabwe’s next election. The question is how this can be possible if Tsvangirai was on the winning side. A chance meeting with a professor of African history recently gave me insight into a different thinking. Let me call him Professor Really? With the question mark to symbolise that I still doubt his thesis. I got talking to Professor Really by chance at some European Airport recently when both our planes were delayed. After some long philosophical exchanges, I must have sounded emotional and frustrated when I pointed out that there was no way the army generals in Zimbabwe were justified in their public “partisan” positions.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 19:53:32 +0000
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