News / National
'Tsvangirai surrounded by clueless activists,' says Dongo
30 May 2013 at 05:09hrs | Views
Former MP and Zimbabwe Union of Democrats founder, Mrs Margaret Dongo, says Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai was surrounded by clueless activists who still have a lot to learn about serious politics.
She attacked Tsvangirai's stance on security sector reforms saying he was being badly advised.
She said senior politicians could have told the PM that the security sector could be reformed once one he was in the Office of President.
"Does he have his own soldiers if the ones in office are removed? We came from the bush with our soldiers but we inherited the security structures that were there and we had to reform the sector when we were in. General Peter Walls was in charge and (national hero and Retired General Solomon Mujuru) saluted General Walls.
"Tsvangirai has to win the elections and then start his reforms. Look at South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Britain and America, political leaders in those countries do not demand security sector reforms as condition for getting into polls," he said.
She said it was disheartening that Tsvangirai always raised the issues of reforming the security every time he was out of Zimbabwe yet he was not using the internal structures to address his challenges.
"Did (Barack) Obama call for reforming the US army before getting into office? Every leader who gets into office has to embrace the people who are there. The security sector reform is a process and it takes time. South Africa cannot cause the security sector reforms. Its Zimbabwe that will make the changes when it is necessary. The Global Political Agreement expires next month and he (PM) should just wait for the elections and if he happens to win, the he will reform the security," she said.
Sometime last month it were reported that Tsvangirai was courting Dongo
She attacked Tsvangirai's stance on security sector reforms saying he was being badly advised.
She said senior politicians could have told the PM that the security sector could be reformed once one he was in the Office of President.
"Does he have his own soldiers if the ones in office are removed? We came from the bush with our soldiers but we inherited the security structures that were there and we had to reform the sector when we were in. General Peter Walls was in charge and (national hero and Retired General Solomon Mujuru) saluted General Walls.
"Tsvangirai has to win the elections and then start his reforms. Look at South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Britain and America, political leaders in those countries do not demand security sector reforms as condition for getting into polls," he said.
She said it was disheartening that Tsvangirai always raised the issues of reforming the security every time he was out of Zimbabwe yet he was not using the internal structures to address his challenges.
"Did (Barack) Obama call for reforming the US army before getting into office? Every leader who gets into office has to embrace the people who are there. The security sector reform is a process and it takes time. South Africa cannot cause the security sector reforms. Its Zimbabwe that will make the changes when it is necessary. The Global Political Agreement expires next month and he (PM) should just wait for the elections and if he happens to win, the he will reform the security," she said.
Sometime last month it were reported that Tsvangirai was courting Dongo
Source - herald
