Military could intervene to end Mugabe’s purge, says army chief

ZIMBABWE’S army chief yesterday demanded an end to the purge in the ruling Zanu-pf party and warned the military could intervene.

Following the sacking of Emmerson Mnangangwa, the vice president, General Constantine Chiwenga said the security services would stop those “bent on hijacking the revolution”.

The armed forces commander spoke at a press conference in Harare on the “instability” in Zanu-pf, alongside some 90 senior military figures. Mr Mnangagwa was sacked last week by Robert Mugabe, the president, along with several other party members.

The former vice president was also expelled from the party he served for more than 40 years, most of them at Mr Mugabe’s side.

“It is with humility and a heavy heart that we come before you to pronounce the indisputable reality that there is instability in Zanu-pf today and as a result anxiety in the country at large,” Gen Chiwenga said. “We must remind those behind the current treacherous shenanigans that when it comes to matters of protecting our revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in.

“The current purging which is clearly targeting members of the party with liberation [war] backgrounds must stop forthwith. There is distress, trepidation and despondency within the nation.”

There were clashes in central Harare in August between the Zimbabwe Republic Police – loyal to Grace Mugabe, the first lady, and her allies in G40, a Zanu-pf faction – and soldiers who are loyal to Mr Mnangagwa.

Later that month, Mr Mnangagwa claimed he was poisoned at a rally addressed by Mr Mugabe, and was airlifted by a military aircraft to South Africa where he spent nearly two weeks in hospital.

Mr Mnangagwa, 75, left the country after being dismissed and arrived in Johannesburg last Wednesday.

Under orders from Mr Mugabe, he is accused of organising the murder of thousands of opposition supporters since independence from the UK in 1980. He issued a five-page statement when he left Zimbabwe last week saying he would return and would lead resistance to Mr Mugabe. “We will soon control the levers of power in our beautiful party and country,” he said.

Many veterans of the war against white-ruled Rhodesia have turned against Mr and Mrs Mugabe and the G40 faction.

Mrs Mugabe and her supporters, without providing any evidence, claim Mr Mnangagwa planned to take power from Mr Mugabe who is standing for re election next year. Mrs Mugabe told a rally in Harare 10 days ago that Mr Mnangagwa had plotted against her husband since independence.

Gen Chiwenga’s contract as leader of the armed forces expired in July, and it is not clear whether Mr Mugabe will keep him on in his job.

Last weekend, several members of the Zimbabwe National Army told reporters, in confidence, that they could not afford to object to Mr Mnangagwa’s sacking as they “needed their jobs”.