MDC-T claims of military takeover in Zim rubbished

takeover by the military are only meant to justify its call for security sector reforms, a retired senior army officer said here yesterday.
Addressing a seminar organised by the Africa Institute of South Africa in Pretoria yesterday, Retired Brigadier-General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi, said it was MDC-T’s intention to use such false claims to cause the dismantling of existing security structures in the country.
He said security forces would not allow such a scenario to happen as they were bound under the Constitution to defend Zimbabwe’s sovereignty from foreign-sponsored aggression.
Rtd Brig-Gen Tapfumaneyi said this explained why MDC-T had once recruited Retired Colonel Martin Rupiya, a known soldier and forwarded him to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Munhumutapa Offices.
He said Rtd Col Rupiya confessed to him at one point that MDC-T wanted to use its position in the inclusive Government to effect security sector reforms.
“We will have our own army, own police. We are going to use our own presence in the inclusive Government to create those structures,” Rtd Brig-Gen Tapfumaneyi quoted Rtd Col Rupiya as having said.
He said it was such desire to effect reforms in the security forces that had seen MDC-T peddling lies about the militarisation of Government institutions in Zimbabwe and claims that the army had taken over executive authority in Harare.
“Zimbabwe is a constitutional democracy and there is very clear demarcation of powers. President Mugabe is in charge 100 percent,” he said.
Rtd Brig Gen Tapfumaneyi, however, made it clear that the security forces would not sit and watch the country under threat from Britain through the MDC-T.
“Under the Constitution of Zimbabwe, security forces are sworn to defend Zimbabwe. Here comes a party like the MDC-T, which Britain confirmed it created . . . It is its origins that are a threat. The MDC is a factor to that threat.
“The threat to Zimbabwe is generated by Britain and the MDC is an appendage to that . . . This is why the military in Zimbabwe is behaving the way it is behaving. It is not because they fear prosecution at the Hague,” he said.
Rtd Brig-Gen Tapfumaneyi said the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’ professionalism had never been doubted at home and abroad, making it unwarranted to call for security sector reforms.
“The ZDF remains one of the most respected armies in Africa and the world. Zimbabweans are today flying the Royal Air Force,” he said.
The participation of Zimbabwe’s security forces in United Nations missions across the globe, he added, was clear testimony to its professionalism.
“We have excelled where we have gone. The whole notion of reforming the security sector is misplaced. They (MDC-T and its functionaries) are failing to define what they want,” he said.
MDC-T and its functionaries have been advocating security sector reform ahead of today’s Sadc extraordinary summit to review the political situation in Zimbabwe.