People were committing crimes in army uniform like attire- Sekeramayi

Defence Minister Sydeny Sekeramayi has said many of the people who were wearing attire similar to that or army were committing a lot of crimes hence the government resolved to ban wearing of any attire similar to the army uniforms.

Sekeramayi said that while responding to questions asked by a house of assembly member Machingaifa in parliament.

"My question is directed to the Minister of Defence.  Last year we asked regarding civilians who are found wearing fashionable military attire which is said to be illegal.  In Harare, a lot of civilians are wearing fashionable military camouflage. There are shops that are selling this type of regalia.  What are you going to do?  Are civilians going to be prosecuted and what steps are in place to prevent the public from buying and wearing this type of regalia?" he asked.

Sekeramayi said Zimbabwe and other countries are saying it is illegal for any civilian to wear military attire or some look alike fashion army regalia if you are not in the military.

"We know it had become fashionable to wear look alike fashion army attire and people would even be showing off in that attire.  We prohibit this because some people who were wearing that regalia yet they did not belong to the military were engaging in illegal activities such as raping, corruption, murder and armed robbery and innocent civilians would then end up blaming the military.  That is why, we are saying, it is illegal for anybody to wear military regalia or anything camouflage," he said.

He said now, this is a directive to shop owners and retailers that it is illegal to sell this type of regalia.

"This should also serve as a warning to civilians that it is illegal for you to wear fashionable look alike military regalia.  We do not want to end up prosecuting people unnecessarily.  Hence I am pleading with Hon. Senators and Members of Parliament to go and advise shop owners, retailers and hawkers in your respective constituencies to stop selling fashionable look alike military regalia because it is illegal.  So people who continue putting on such attire should stand warned that it is illegal and whosoever is found in future to be abrogating this law may find themselves being arrested and prosecuted.  Putting on military attire, fatigue or camouflage is illegal," he said.