News / National
How do you accuse Generals when you wine and dine with the coloniser: Mugabe
16 Jul 2011 at 06:15hrs | Views
PARLIAMENT has no business discussing the conduct of security forces, President Robert Gabriel Mugabe said yesterday.
Addressing the 85th Ordinary Session of the Zanu-PF Central Committee in Harare yesterday, the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said the issue can only be discussed in appropriate forums.
"As Commander-in-Chief of the security forces, I want to make it very clear that no one should meddle with the command.
"Parliament cannot be Commander-in-Chief of the security forces. It has no business debating the conduct of individuals in command, let them raise that with me in appropriate forums.
"We have the National Security Council where we all sit together with commanders. No one has mustered the courage to raise issues with them.
"Their false courage only comes outside that platform, before their supporters. This is why we repudiate demands they make in their politically drunk condition, indeed dismiss them with utter contempt."
Mugabe said the so-called security sector reforms were a Western ploy to weaken Zimbabwe.
"The so-called security sector reforms, all of them emanate from Western interests, are a proposition from an enemy who wishes to weaken us. We are not in the habit of taking advice from our enemies."
He said no security sector reforms would take place in Zimbabwe.
"Let the MDC formations find something to talk about, not that one please," Mugabe said.
The President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF said he stands by the ZDF commanders.
"Beyond their present service, these are men and women who served in the ranks of our two liberation armies, Zanla and Zipra. They have defended our freedom, kept the peace. Above all, they have brought peace to other nations who were in danger or needed assistance. Their record is there for all to see," he said.
Mugabe said the MDC formations should self-introspect their relationship with former colonisers instead of fighting people who brought freedom to Zimbabwe.
"Very few of our politicians today can dispense to these fine men and women any lessons on freedom and democracy. How do you teach freedom and democracy to a person who liberated you, especially when seen as the treacherous politician that you are today?
"How do you point a finger at them. You who deserted the cause of your people as they writhed in bondage?
"How do you accuse them when you are a person who wines and dines with the coloniser? Before we cast a stone on these fine men and women of freedom struggles, let us look back into our past to take stock of our own sins, both of commission and omission.
"Above all, let us look at our misdeeds today, explaining to ourselves why we are in bed with the enemy, all to snore in perfect comfort."
MDC-T has since taken the fight to Parliament and this week moved a motion to condemn the security forces.
The motion followed remarks by Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba that the defence forces viewed Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai as more of a national security threat than a political threat.
Addressing the 85th Ordinary Session of the Zanu-PF Central Committee in Harare yesterday, the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said the issue can only be discussed in appropriate forums.
"As Commander-in-Chief of the security forces, I want to make it very clear that no one should meddle with the command.
"Parliament cannot be Commander-in-Chief of the security forces. It has no business debating the conduct of individuals in command, let them raise that with me in appropriate forums.
"We have the National Security Council where we all sit together with commanders. No one has mustered the courage to raise issues with them.
"Their false courage only comes outside that platform, before their supporters. This is why we repudiate demands they make in their politically drunk condition, indeed dismiss them with utter contempt."
Mugabe said the so-called security sector reforms were a Western ploy to weaken Zimbabwe.
"The so-called security sector reforms, all of them emanate from Western interests, are a proposition from an enemy who wishes to weaken us. We are not in the habit of taking advice from our enemies."
He said no security sector reforms would take place in Zimbabwe.
The President and First Secretary of Zanu-PF said he stands by the ZDF commanders.
"Beyond their present service, these are men and women who served in the ranks of our two liberation armies, Zanla and Zipra. They have defended our freedom, kept the peace. Above all, they have brought peace to other nations who were in danger or needed assistance. Their record is there for all to see," he said.
Mugabe said the MDC formations should self-introspect their relationship with former colonisers instead of fighting people who brought freedom to Zimbabwe.
"Very few of our politicians today can dispense to these fine men and women any lessons on freedom and democracy. How do you teach freedom and democracy to a person who liberated you, especially when seen as the treacherous politician that you are today?
"How do you point a finger at them. You who deserted the cause of your people as they writhed in bondage?
"How do you accuse them when you are a person who wines and dines with the coloniser? Before we cast a stone on these fine men and women of freedom struggles, let us look back into our past to take stock of our own sins, both of commission and omission.
"Above all, let us look at our misdeeds today, explaining to ourselves why we are in bed with the enemy, all to snore in perfect comfort."
MDC-T has since taken the fight to Parliament and this week moved a motion to condemn the security forces.
The motion followed remarks by Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba that the defence forces viewed Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai as more of a national security threat than a political threat.
Source - Byo24News
