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Ordinary Session of the Zanu-PF Central Committee in Harare yesterday, the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said the issue can only be discussed in appropriate forums.
“As Commander-in-Chief of the security forces, I want to make it very clear that no one should meddle with the command.
“Parliament cannot be Commander-in-Chief of the security forces. It has no business debating the conduct of individuals in command, let them raise that with me in appropriate forums.
“We have the National Security Council where we all sit together with commanders. No one has mustered the courage to raise issues with them.
“Their false courage only comes outside that platform, before their supporters. This is why we repudiate demands they make in their politically drunk condition, indeed dismiss them with utter contempt.”
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President Mugabe said the so-called security sector reforms were a Western ploy to weaken Zimbabwe.
“The so-called security sector reforms, all of them emanate from Western interests, are a proposition from an enemy who wishes to weaken us. We are not in the habit of taking advice from our enemies.”
He said no security sector reforms would take place in Zimbabwe.
“Let the MDC formations find something to talk about, not that one please,” President Mugabe said.
The President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF said he stands by the ZDF commanders.
“Beyond their present service, these are men and women who served in the ranks of our two liberation armies, Zanla and Zipra. They have defended our freedom, kept the peace. Above all, they have brought peace to other nations who were in danger or needed assistance. Their record is there for all to see,” he said.
President Mugabe said the MDC formations should self-introspect their relationship with former colonisers instead of fighting people who brought freedom to Zimbabwe.
“Very few of our politicians today can dispense to these fine men and women any lessons on freedom and democracy. How do you teach freedom and democracy to a person who liberated you, especially when seen as the treacherous politician that you are today?
“How do you point a finger at them. You who deserted the cause of your people as they writhed in bondage?
“How do you accuse them when you are a person who wines and dines with the coloniser? Before we cast a stone on these fine men and women of freedom struggles, let us look back into our past to take stock of our own sins, both of commission and omission.
“Above all, let us look at our misdeeds today, explaining to ourselves why we are in bed with the enemy, all to snore in perfect comfort.”
The MDC formations have been clamouring for security sector reforms.
MDC-T has since taken the fight to Parliament and this week moved a motion to condemn the security forces.
The motion followed remarks by Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba that the defence forces viewed Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai as more of a national security threat than a political threat.
President Mugabe said allegations by MDC-T that police were selectively applying the law were misplaced because of the violence violent nature of their supporters and disrespect of the force.
The acts of violence recently claimed the life of a policeman.
“If you disrespect them they won’t respect you and so we say to the MDC, yes we agreed to be partners with you in the GPA. You are Zimbabweans, but we know you don’t have the same beliefs as ourselves.
“Your allies are our enemies and even then you become enemies of those who liberated the country,” he said.
President Mugabe said MDC-T lied to Sadc at the Troika Summit in Livingstone, Zambia, resulting in an adverse report on Zanu-PF.
He however, said Zanu-PF later sent its envoys to set the record straight.
“I am happy that our envoys did well to communicate the correct situation in the country thereby laying firm groundwork for the auspicious developments that were to follow. I am happy that Sadc listened to the truth about our situation thereby placing itself in a position to repulse imperialist lies,” he said.
President Mugabe said the GPA was never designed to be a permanent solution.
He said its continued existence would be a denial of the right for Zimbabweans to freely choose their leaders.
The MDC formations, President Mugabe said, wanted to delay the elections because they were afraid of losing.
“Maybe because having elections will see them ousted by the people who now see that they are naked, naked as Zwambila in Australia. She has demonstrated in reality what they are,” President Mugabe said.
He said it was possible to hold elections this year given that in 1980 elections were held in February when constitutional talks at Lancaster had been concluded just two months before.
On the anti-sanctions campaign, the President said the petition should be taken to progressive countries in African, Asia and Latin America and like-minded organisations.
He urged party members to sue countries that imposed the illegal embargo in their domestic courts.
“Go to countries that support us politically and even financially and even challenge them in their own institutions and courts and embarrass them by decisions which we believe we will win by and large,” he said.
Cde Mugabe said the deportation of Zanu-PF members’ children from Western countries was against international law.
He slammed the West for its imperialist agenda that has seen it sponsor wars in resource-rich nations in Africa.
He said the bombardment of Libya by Nato forces was against international law and a ploy to plunder its oil.
President Mugabe called for unity within Zanu-PF urging members to desist from attacking each other in the media.
Online Reporter