News / National
Army deployed in G40 strongholds, Ruhanya claims
11 Jul 2018 at 04:25hrs | Views
DEFENCE forces chiefs are worried that people in G40 strongholds will likely vote for the opposition to spite President Emmerson Mnangagwa who took over through a military coup, a local think tank has said.
Zimbabwe Institute of Democracy (ZDI) executive director Pedzisayi Ruhanya said the military had now deployed in rural areas to gather intelligence on the mood of villagers following the ouster of former President Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF's G40 faction in the November 2017 coup.
The allegation has since been denied by the defence forces.
According to NewZimbabwe.com, Ruhanya told a press conference to launch a report titled ‘Zanu-PF Military Deterrence of the Village Vote: Perceptions on the 2018 Election Environment' that the deployments were mostly in Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East provinces which were strongholds of the deposed G40 faction of Zanu-PF.
He said contrary to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces spokesperson Overson Mugwisi assertions that the army was deployed on national duty, they were actually helping with campaigns for Zanu-PF in the rural areas.
According to the report, 67 percent of sampled respondents said at least five soldiers had been deployed in their communities while 100 percent of respondents in Mashonaland Central province said, at most, five soldiers had been spotted in their villages.
The survey revealed that the soldiers moved around carrying guns and other military equipment.
Zimbabwe Institute of Democracy (ZDI) executive director Pedzisayi Ruhanya said the military had now deployed in rural areas to gather intelligence on the mood of villagers following the ouster of former President Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF's G40 faction in the November 2017 coup.
The allegation has since been denied by the defence forces.
He said contrary to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces spokesperson Overson Mugwisi assertions that the army was deployed on national duty, they were actually helping with campaigns for Zanu-PF in the rural areas.
According to the report, 67 percent of sampled respondents said at least five soldiers had been deployed in their communities while 100 percent of respondents in Mashonaland Central province said, at most, five soldiers had been spotted in their villages.
The survey revealed that the soldiers moved around carrying guns and other military equipment.
Source - newzimbabwe
