News / National
Tsvangirai told to leave generals alone
26 Jun 2011 at 09:59hrs | Views
Harare – Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has lashed out at MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai for challenging service chiefs to take off their uniforms and openly contest for power.
In a statement yesterday, Minister Mnangagwa said the Zimbabwe Defence Forces have a constitutional mandate to protect Zimbabwe from both external and or internal threat.
Addressing an MDC-T rally at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru on Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai threw a challenge at the security chiefs to resign from their posts and take up politics full time.
"Following the challenge by the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai that the Service Chiefs remove their uniforms and openly contest for power, in an article which appeared in the Daily News of 20 June 2011, the Minister of Defence wishes to advise the members of the public the following;
"From a professional point of view, the ZDF service chiefs found it unnecessary to respond to the uncalled for provocation by the Prime Minister's utterances.
"It is, however, not proper for the Prime Minister to challenge the ZDF service chiefs as he did since it is common knowledge that the service chiefs would not respond to such political statements.
"The ZDF service chiefs have a constitutional mandate to protect the territorial integrity of our country and protect the nation of Zimbabwe from both external and or internal threat," Minister Mnangagwa said.
He said he stood by Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa's reminder to Mr Tsvangirai to concentrate on running his party and stop attempts to provoke and bring the integrity of the service chiefs into disrepute.
Minister Mutasa, who was the Acting Defence Minister, on Monday said: "Tsvangirai should stop hiding behind unreasonable claims that soldiers are disturbing him. It is his inability that is making him a failure.
"He should just run his party in peace and if he has failed, he should find someone else to run it.
In a statement yesterday, Minister Mnangagwa said the Zimbabwe Defence Forces have a constitutional mandate to protect Zimbabwe from both external and or internal threat.
Addressing an MDC-T rally at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru on Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai threw a challenge at the security chiefs to resign from their posts and take up politics full time.
"Following the challenge by the Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai that the Service Chiefs remove their uniforms and openly contest for power, in an article which appeared in the Daily News of 20 June 2011, the Minister of Defence wishes to advise the members of the public the following;
"From a professional point of view, the ZDF service chiefs found it unnecessary to respond to the uncalled for provocation by the Prime Minister's utterances.
"It is, however, not proper for the Prime Minister to challenge the ZDF service chiefs as he did since it is common knowledge that the service chiefs would not respond to such political statements.
"The ZDF service chiefs have a constitutional mandate to protect the territorial integrity of our country and protect the nation of Zimbabwe from both external and or internal threat," Minister Mnangagwa said.
He said he stood by Presidential Affairs Minister Didymus Mutasa's reminder to Mr Tsvangirai to concentrate on running his party and stop attempts to provoke and bring the integrity of the service chiefs into disrepute.
Minister Mutasa, who was the Acting Defence Minister, on Monday said: "Tsvangirai should stop hiding behind unreasonable claims that soldiers are disturbing him. It is his inability that is making him a failure.
"He should just run his party in peace and if he has failed, he should find someone else to run it.
Source - Byo24News
