Chronicle Editor
Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
OPERATION Restore Legacy officially ended yesterday, with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces calling on Zimbabweans to remain united, peaceful and work hard for national development.
Newly-appointed ZDF Commander General Phillip Valerio Sibanda said yesterday that the defence forces had handed over all normal day to day policing duties to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and urged members of the public to allow for a smooth transition.
He described the operation as a success.
“As a result of political developments that have occurred in the past weeks, normalcy has returned to our country. It’s for this reason that as the defence and security services we announce the end of Operation Restore Legacy today.
“We want to take this opportunity to thank all Zimbabweans for their support, patience and understanding during the five weeks of Operation Restore Legacy. We understand the inconvenience and anxiety that this operation might have caused in certain circles of our nation,” said Gen Sibanda.
He said as Operation Restore Legacy comes to an end, it was his hope that the people of Zimbabwe will remain united, shun corruption, be law abiding and focus on working hard for the development of the country.
He also commended members of the various security services who participated in the operation for their diligence, courteousness and commitment to duty while dealing with the public.
“We also want to make special mention to the veterans of our liberation struggle, former detainees, and war collaborators for their mobilisation efforts which resulted in the massive turnout by Zimbabweans for their solidarity march on 19 November 2017.
“This day was historic and will be remembered for generations to come. In this regard, we’re all reminded by what the President said in his inaugural speech at the National Sports Stadium on 24 November 2017-to focus on recovering the economy,” said Gen Sibanda.
He urged members of the public to report suspicious individuals who intimidate them and threaten the peaceful environment reigning in the country.
“Furthermore, the defence and security services would like to remind all Zimbabweans to remain vigilant and report all suspicious objects and individuals to law enforcement agents.
“This is because some of the members of the G40 cabal that had surrounded the former Head of State are now bad-mouthing the country from foreign lands where their intentions to harm the peace and tranquillity that exist in the country have been pronounced,” said Lt-Gen Sibanda.
It is therefore, he added, the duty of every Zimbabwean to ensure that these malcontents, saboteurs and others of like mind are not allowed to succeed.
Gen Sibanda urged members of the public to respect, support and cooperate with the police as they execute their constitutional mandate.
“On the other hand the ZRP officers are expected to fully take over their responsibilities and perform according to their constitutional mandate and Client Service Charter.
“It’s our belief that with clearer and better coordinated plans for the resuscitation of our economy, coupled with the existence of peace and political stability, our combined efforts to turn around our economy will pay dividends in the very near future,” he said.
He also commended members of the public for their resilience which has taken the country where it is today despite the challenges that confronted the nation.
“As we prepare for the 2018 elections, it’s our wish that the campaigning and voting itself on the day takes place in an environment of peace and tranquillity. President Mnangagwa, in his remarks at the Zanu-PF Extraordinary Congress on 15 December 2017 urged all of us to remain peaceful before and after elections. We do not condone any acts of violence. Let’s all work for a peaceful and prosperous Zimbabwe,” said Gen Sibanda.
He said the main objective of Operation Restore Legacy, which was launched on November 13, 2017, was to remove criminals that had surrounded the former President resulting in anxiety and despondence among the people of Zimbabwe.
“While some of the individuals have been accounted for, others skipped the country. This, notwithstanding, the objectives of the operation have, to a large extent been achieved. Besides the main objective, Operation Restore Legacy has had wider implications on the political, economic and social activities of our people.
“In this regard, a new political dispensation has been ushered in to take Zimbabwe to its rightful place within Sadc and the world at large. The nation will recall that before the statement that was issued by the Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Constantino Guveya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga on 13 November 2017, many political and economic security events had taken place all of which had the effect of causing anxiety and despondence among the generality of our people, as well as destabilising the defence and security services of the country,” said Gen Sibanda.
He also chronicled the events that saw former President Mugabe resigning up to the point when President Mnangagwa appointed a new Cabinet.
“The General’s statement was followed by a series of political events, the highlights of which were the resignation of the former President Cde Robert Mugabe from the seat of power, followed by the inauguration of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, as the second executive President and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces since the country’s independence in 1980.
“Since then, the appointment of a new Cabinet on November 30, 2017 and the holding of the Extraordinary Congress of the ruling Zanu-PF party and many other events are now history which we have all been witnesses to,” said Gen Sibanda. —@pamelashumba1
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