Brigadier Nyikayaramba reported to JOMIC

MDC-T is reported to have lodged a formal complaint with the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) over statements made by brigadier-general Douglas Nyikayaramba.

Nyikayaramba told both the public and private media that army generals wanted President Robert Mugabe to die in power and that the generals would not salute Prime Minister Tsvangirai even if he won the next elections.

Nyikaramba also cast questioned the premier's leadership qualities, telling the state-run The Herald that: "Tsvangirai doesn't not pose a political threat in any way in Zimbabwe but a major security threat."

"He takes instructions from foreigners who seek to effect regime change in Zimbabwe. If his party was a genuine independent political party, we wouldn't be involved. They said they want to destroy Zanu-PF from within, so we should be vigilant."

He went on to say that soldiers were not going to sit idle "while foreign forces want to attack us. We are prepared to stand by our Commander-In Chief."

MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti wrote to the national director of JOMIC, expressing concerns about Nyikayaramba's statements.

"As the MDC, we are concerned about the recent statements made by Brigadier Nyikayaramba. We note the above statements are a breach of the Constitution, the Defence Act and more importantly, civilian authority in Zimbabwe. We shall be pleased as a Party to know what actions are being taken to arrest these sad developments," said Biti in his letter to Chiradza.

During a parliamentary debate on the MDC-T initiated motion asking the House to compel security commanders to stop meddling in the country's political affairs.