News / National
Security chiefs move in to stop another Zanu-PF protest vote
30 Jun 2013 at 09:09hrs | Views
SECURITY chiefs have moved in to stop disgruntled Zanu-PF officials from making another protest vote dubbed "bhora musango", in an effort to prop up President Robert Mugabe's political fortunes ahead of the July 31 elections.
Mugabe (89), faces a stiff challenge from MDC-T leader Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC president Welshman Ncube and Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa. Two other lesser known candidates Kisinot Mukwazhi of ZPD and Joseph Bushu of FCZ are also seeking to wrestle the presidency from him.
The security chiefs who masterminded the June 2008 run-off campaign, are reported not taking any chances this time around and wanted to ensure all Zanu-PF supporters rallied behind Mugabe.
Sources said the partisan security apparatus would now be used to enforce a code of conduct which all candidates signed before the primaries. Under the code of conduct the contestants agreed to support eventual winners to avert dividing the vote.
Those caught on the wrong side would either face disciplinary action or the threat of arrest, the Zanu-PF official said.
Security officers were also heavily involved in the just-ended primary elections with the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), reportedly responsible for vetting candidates. Uniformed police officers were also captured by the media helping Zanu-PF officials conduct the primaries.
Zanu-PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo confirmed that efforts would be made to ensure that party members adhere to the code of conduct. He said most aspects of the code would come into effect tomorrow, when the party officially hit the ground campaigning.
"The code of conduct specifically says that such behaviour [bhora musango] will see the involved members being disciplined by the party or any other institution in place," Gumbo said.
He however could not say what role the security chiefs would play on behalf of Zanu-PF in the forthcoming elections.
A senior government official close to the party confirmed the involvement of securocrats in Zanu-PF politics.
Only recently, the government official said, they helped block an attempt by one of the factions in Zanu-PF to call for a politburo meeting when Mugabe was away in Japan for a summit.
The official said security chiefs with the support of one of the security ministers who also sits on the Joint Operations Command (JOC) phoned individual politburo members warning them against attending such a meeting in the absence of Mugabe.
The new constitution bars the security sector from being partisan and dabbling in politics, but evidence on the ground does not show that they have stopped this. Security chiefs have over the years openly supported Mugabe and Zanu-PF. They have also vowed not to salute Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai even if he wins the Presidential election.
Mugabe (89), faces a stiff challenge from MDC-T leader Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC president Welshman Ncube and Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa. Two other lesser known candidates Kisinot Mukwazhi of ZPD and Joseph Bushu of FCZ are also seeking to wrestle the presidency from him.
The security chiefs who masterminded the June 2008 run-off campaign, are reported not taking any chances this time around and wanted to ensure all Zanu-PF supporters rallied behind Mugabe.
Sources said the partisan security apparatus would now be used to enforce a code of conduct which all candidates signed before the primaries. Under the code of conduct the contestants agreed to support eventual winners to avert dividing the vote.
Those caught on the wrong side would either face disciplinary action or the threat of arrest, the Zanu-PF official said.
Security officers were also heavily involved in the just-ended primary elections with the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), reportedly responsible for vetting candidates. Uniformed police officers were also captured by the media helping Zanu-PF officials conduct the primaries.
Zanu-PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo confirmed that efforts would be made to ensure that party members adhere to the code of conduct. He said most aspects of the code would come into effect tomorrow, when the party officially hit the ground campaigning.
"The code of conduct specifically says that such behaviour [bhora musango] will see the involved members being disciplined by the party or any other institution in place," Gumbo said.
He however could not say what role the security chiefs would play on behalf of Zanu-PF in the forthcoming elections.
A senior government official close to the party confirmed the involvement of securocrats in Zanu-PF politics.
Only recently, the government official said, they helped block an attempt by one of the factions in Zanu-PF to call for a politburo meeting when Mugabe was away in Japan for a summit.
The official said security chiefs with the support of one of the security ministers who also sits on the Joint Operations Command (JOC) phoned individual politburo members warning them against attending such a meeting in the absence of Mugabe.
The new constitution bars the security sector from being partisan and dabbling in politics, but evidence on the ground does not show that they have stopped this. Security chiefs have over the years openly supported Mugabe and Zanu-PF. They have also vowed not to salute Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai even if he wins the Presidential election.
Source - the standard
