‘No room for gay rights in new Constitution’

rights in the Zimbabwean Con­stitution.

“Those fighting for gay rights are dis­obeying God who created us in his image,” he said. “The land belongs to chiefs who were given the sovereign right by God to rule.”
Governor Machaya said the tradi­tional leaders had absolute power to ban, stop and forbid their subjects from following cultures that destroy the country. “Let us collectively fight the enemy who is trying to destabilise our nation through introduction of foreign cultures,” he said.

Governor Machaya said chiefs should teach their subjects to maintain Zimbabwean culture. He said efforts by the country’s detractors to enforce secu­rity sector reforms were misguided.

“From history, even when we still had chiefs such as Lobengula, soldiers have always been there to give security guid­ance,” said Governor Machaya. “Now, I wonder what is different when our sol­diers are advising their leaders.”

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Governor Machaya urged Zimbab­weans to remain vigilant.
“Soldiers are there to support chiefs and leaders since they are the backbone of the nation,” he said.
“Soldiers are not there to just fight wars only, they help in crisis, disease outbreaks and managing disasters. The nation must not be fooled to think that soldiers are enemies of the State.”

Major General Martin Chedondo, who was representing Zimbabwe Natio-nal Army commander Lieu­tenant General Philip Valerio Sibanda, said soldiers, chiefs and political leaders depend on each other.
“Soldiers are defending the nation for chiefs. Everyone in Zimbabwe is related to the soil that’s why we fought for the land,” he said.

“Minerals belong to us and it is our heritage that must be kept for genera­tions that shall follow.”
Maj-General Chedondo said the army was fully in support of the Zunde raMambo programmes.
“We are mobilising for inputs that would be distributed to all chiefs and villagers,” he said.

“Our country has never been known for begging, we do not live on begging, we have pride in doing things on our own and use our land and resources wisely, with pride.”