Opinion / Columnist
Ex-Military government officials angered by public scrutiny
19 Feb 2019 at 13:24hrs | Views
Following a soft coup that deposed former President Robert Mugabe from power last year, a number of military generals were retired to take up civilian posts in the new government in Zimbabwe.
Among those who took up powerful posts include Air Marshall Perence Shiri, the Minister of Agriculture who had served as Airforce commander for many years, Foreign Affairs Minister Lt. General Sibusiso Moyo who announced the power take over and Vice President General Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga who was commander Defence Forces during the Mugabe government among others.
Unconfirmed reports have indicated that some of the ex-military generals are increasingly worried about the fact that their private and social life is now under the microscope of the public through social media, a thing they believe is a taboo.
Reports have shown that some of them have even raised complaints with President Mnangagwa, stating that their health conditions were tweeted by some ministers in the recent months.
Social media has previously falsely claimed that certain ministers were dead, prompting the media to correct the falsehoods.
However political analysts insist that once one chooses to join politics, the public becomes interested in their affairs and cannot afford to hide from the media.
Ministerial appointments are civilian posts hence the need for military personnel to undergo a demilitarisation exercise before being assigned.
While former President Mugabe tried to conceal his medical trips to Singapore, it became apparent that he was increasingly frail and unfit for office when his trips to the Asian economic giant frequented.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe does not allow public officials to continue clinging to office when they are incapacitated and unable to perform their normal routine duties.
The struggle by some ministers with a military background to cope with civilian lifestyle and their shy away from the media has to some extent vindicated the oppsition MDC's notion that soldiers need to be confined to the barracks and not be given civilian appointments as they continue with their radical approach and demand a special treatment other than that given to civilians whom they call povo.
Among those who took up powerful posts include Air Marshall Perence Shiri, the Minister of Agriculture who had served as Airforce commander for many years, Foreign Affairs Minister Lt. General Sibusiso Moyo who announced the power take over and Vice President General Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga who was commander Defence Forces during the Mugabe government among others.
Unconfirmed reports have indicated that some of the ex-military generals are increasingly worried about the fact that their private and social life is now under the microscope of the public through social media, a thing they believe is a taboo.
Reports have shown that some of them have even raised complaints with President Mnangagwa, stating that their health conditions were tweeted by some ministers in the recent months.
Social media has previously falsely claimed that certain ministers were dead, prompting the media to correct the falsehoods.
Ministerial appointments are civilian posts hence the need for military personnel to undergo a demilitarisation exercise before being assigned.
While former President Mugabe tried to conceal his medical trips to Singapore, it became apparent that he was increasingly frail and unfit for office when his trips to the Asian economic giant frequented.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe does not allow public officials to continue clinging to office when they are incapacitated and unable to perform their normal routine duties.
The struggle by some ministers with a military background to cope with civilian lifestyle and their shy away from the media has to some extent vindicated the oppsition MDC's notion that soldiers need to be confined to the barracks and not be given civilian appointments as they continue with their radical approach and demand a special treatment other than that given to civilians whom they call povo.
Source - Alistair Nyakudya
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
