‘War vets ready to defend Zim’
ZIMBABWEAN political leaders are elected into office after every five years and the opposition political groups that are planning some demonstrations to subvert the constitutionally elected Government must desist from such nefarious activities, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairman, Ambassador Chris Mutsvangwa has said. Speaking in an interview with The Manica
Post on the sidelines of a Zanu PF provincial coordination meeting in Mutare last Saturday, Ambassador Mutsvangwa urged those planning the July 31 demonstrations to stop their machinations.
“We want to strongly warn all opposition and associated elements who are organising an uprising in the country. This is not Sudan. Zimbabwe is not Tunisia. Zimbabwe is not part of the Arab Spring uprisings and definitely not Eastern Europe. We are a democratic State which holds elections every five years. People wait for the elections to change their leadership.
“We want to remind them (those organising the July 31 protest) that an uprising against a State is a serious undertaking,” he said.
Ambassador Mutsvangwa’s sentiments come amid howls for protests from some anti-Government groups to subvert the constitutionally elected President Mnangagwa-led Government.
“Those who are illusioned into thinking they can subvert the State that we created militarily and which was endorsed by elections in 1980 are in for a big surprise. As war veterans, we are ready to defend our country. We will not brook any nonsense nomatter where it comes from and whichever manner it may come in.
“According to the Constitution of Zimbabwe, a democratic expression can only be done through the ballot. Therefore the MDC Alliance, Ngarivhume, trade union officials, and a cohort of churches, NGOs and whoever is sponsoring them, must be guided accordingly.
“The protestors’ sponsors need to know that we are not scared of them when it comes to the defence of the State of Zimbabwe. We are not scared of safeguarding the democratic expression of the people of this country which is done through elections.”
Addressing the same meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa urged Zimbabweans to be wary of falsehoods being peddled on social media.
“There is a need to debunk the negative narrative being peddled on social media. The MDC has nothing to offer to the people of Zimbabwe. It has been running local authorities in Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare but has dismally failed to deliver.
“We should not allow the enemy to divide us. We should come up with good narratives of the good work being done by the Government to put our detractors to shame. We should not be passive consumers of the lies being peddled on social media. Rather, we should actively participate on these platforms and tell the world the truth of what is obtaining in Zimbabwe,” said Cde Mutsvangwa.
Early this week, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, Mr Nick Mangwana also added his voice to the conversation and said no one is above the law.
“There is no profession which is above the law. Journalists are not above the law. Lawyers are not above the law. Doctors and nurses are
not above the law. Politicians and bankers are not above the law. Anyone suspected to have committed a crime should be subjected to due process,” he wrote on his Twitter handle. “Embassies have to respect the laws of the hosting country. Zimbabwe’s judicial system does not have a jury system and it certainly has not appointed any embassy as a juror to assess cases under our processes to come up with premature verdicts. Nobody is above the law, including those who work closely with foreign countries as resource persons or agents. We should allow the law to take its course,” said Mr Mangwana.
This came after the arrest of Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume and journalist-cum political activist, Hopewell Chin’ono, on allegations of inciting violence.