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Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
President Mugabe did not need to consult Parliament before sending members of the security forces to Equatorial Guinea for peacekeeping during the ongoing African Cup of Nations finals because there is no war in the West African country.Defence Minister Dr Sydney Sekeramayi told Senate on Thursday that the deployment of soldiers to a war zone in a foreign country was the condition that would have required consultation with Parliament and not the present situation which was for peacekeeping mission.
He said the decision to send members of the security services was also in fulfilment of a request from the African Union, which was constitutionally allowed to make such a request.
Minister Sekeramayi said this while responding to a question in Senate during the question and answer session.
Matabeleland South Senator Watchy Sibanda (MDC-T) had asked Minister Sekeramayi to explain the circumstances under which members of the security services were deployed to the Equatorial Guinea.
Minister Sekeramayi said the request was not made only to Zimbabwe, but to other countries renowned for an army with expertise in crowd management.
“As a country we were requested to assist so that there is peace during the football tournament,” he said.
“Our soldiers are not in a war situation. It is only war situations that we would request Parliament. We were requested as an AU member.”
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