Zimbabweans hate military rule - Afrobarometer

The recent findings by research think-tank Afrobarometer show that  the public trusts the national army; but it exposes that citizens would not prefer a military rule as it is vulnerable to detector ship and violent rule.

Mass Public Opinion Institute (Mpoi) director Eldred Masunungure the public does not want the arm officials to take charge of the country.

His remarks comes in the wake of howls of denials from the opposition and disagreements among political analysts over the findings of the 2014 survey carried out in partnership with Mpoi.

"While Zimbabweans said they trust the military, they are very clear they do not want the army anywhere near the country's political architecture. They do not want the military anywhere near State House, as governors or rulers," he said.

"Trust or no trust in institutions such as the military is based on either pleasant or unpleasant encounters with the army. Except for the 2008 scenario in which the army was actively involved in the country's political set-up, they have tended to stay in barracks."

Masunungure acknowledged criticism that the survey was carried out in an undemocratic environment which would "contaminate" the results of the research as respondents may have given answers that were motivated by fear.

He said factors as fear grip the citizens during the research which makes then to respond otherwise even if in their thinking they are against the issues being talked about.

The University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer could however not provide the figures of the "fear-factor" in the contentious survey.

Political scientist Ibbo Mandaza said the survey  does not conform to reality. "The survey's methodology is out of sync and out of touch with the reality on the ground. The study is foolish and dangerous," Mandaza said.

Opposition parties seemed to agree with Mandaza while NCA leader Lovemore Madhuku described the findings as "nonsense" and accused Afrobarometer of "abusing its name".

However, another analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya said "The findings by Afrobarometer are not surprising, especially relating to the issue of public trust to the opposition parties. There are no compelling reasons why the public should trust an opposition that is in disarray and practising political skulduggery."

"They cause an election and refuse to take part in it, so why should the public trust such organisations, the results are spot on. There is a lot of morbid symptoms within the opposition; there is a lack of leadership. Zimbabweans have turned to ‘better the devil you know' than someone whose capacity they have no idea of, that is why they are trusting the army," he said.

 "Despite the economic problems, there is political stability and peace in the country and it is because of such issues that people trust Mugabe and his institutions. The illegitimacy claim is phantom. In fact, there is regime stability and opposition instability. The opposition must take heed and put its house in order. There is lack of internal cohesion within the opposition ranks."

Afrobarometer raised dust after its report revealed President Robert Mugabe and a host of controversial institutions such as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the army, police and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority reportedly commanded more trust than the country's political opposition.