News / National
Bhasikiti reveals Zanu-PF 2008 poll secret
16 Mar 2016 at 06:22hrs | Views
Ousted ex Zanu PF Masvingo Resident Minister , Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, has revealed that President Robert Mugabe personally deployed the Zimbabwe National Army to wage a violent campaign against MDC-T supporters in the run-up to the presidential election re-run in 2008.
Bhasikiti claimed that the military takes orders from Mugabe alone, who is commander in chief of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces.
President Mugabe in 2008 had said that MDC was responsible for the violence in Zimbabwe and ordered police to use "all necessary force" against opposition activists.
Following the shocking defeat in the polls , Bhasikiti says Mugabe turned to the army, arguing that the party structures lacked capacity to mount an effective campaign.
Some ruling party Members of Parliament were even accused of sabotaging President Mugabe's election campaign.
Tsvangirai claimed that Zimbabwe in 2008 had undergone a de-facto coup d'état as the military had effectively overthrown the democratic electoral processes.
In March 2008 Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Constantine Chiwenga, signaled his readiness to set aside the constitution should Mugabe be defeated at the polls.
Senior Zanu-PF officials said to have been behind the bloody campaign include Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, General Chiwenga, Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri, Air Marshall Perence Shiri, Major General Paradzayi Zimondi, the prisons chief, and ousted spy chief, Didymus Mutasa.
MDC alleges that about 150 of its supporters were killed in the campaign and tens of thousands forced to flee their homes due to political violence.
THE FULL LIST OF THE 2008 MILITARY DEPLOYMENTS
The following are military personnel deployed to lead and run ZANU-PF election campaigns in April 2008:
Harare Metropolitan Province - AVM Michael Karakadzai. Bulawayo - Province Col. C. Sibanda Bulawayo Central - Maj. J. Ndlovu and Maj. J. Ncube Manicaland and Mutare South - Brig. Tarumbwa
Buhera Central - Col. M. Mzilikazi (MID) Buhera North - Maj. L. M. Svosve Buhera South - Maj. D Muchena Buhera West - Lt. Col. Kamonge, Major Nhachi Chimanimani East - Lt. Col Murecherwa Chimanimani West - Maj. Mabvuu Headlands - Col. Mutsvunguma Makoni North - Maj. V. Chisuko Makoni South - Wing Commander Mandeya Mutare Central - Lt. Col. Tsodzai, Lt. Col. Sedze, Mandi Chimene Mutare West - Lt. Col. B. Kashiri Mutare North - Lt. Col. Chizengwe, Lt. Col. Mazaiwana Mashonaland Central - Brig.Gen. Shungu Bindura South - Col. Chipwere Bindura North - Lt. Col. Parwada Muzarabani North - Lt. Col. Kazaza Muzarabani South - Maj. H. Maziri Rushinga - Col. F Mhonda, Lt. Col. Betheuni Shamva North - Lt. Col. Dzuda Shamva South - Makumire Midlands - AVM Muchena, Brig. Gen. S. B. Moyo, Lt Col. Kuhuni Chirumanzu South - Maj T. Tsvangirai Mberengwa East - Col. B. Mavire Mberengwa West - Maj. T. Marufu Matebeleland South - AVM Abu Basutu Beitbridge East - Group Cpt. Mayera, Rtd. Maj. Mbedzi, Lt. Col. B. Moyo Gwanda South - Maj. J. D. Moyo Gwanda Central - Maj. B. Tshuma Matopo North - Lt. Col. Maphosa Matebeleland North - Brig. Gen. Khumalo Binga North - Maj. E. S. Matonga Lupane East - Lt. Col. Mkwananzi Lupane West - Lt. Col. Mabhena Tsholotsho - Lt. Col. Mlalazi Hwange Central - Lt. Col. P. Ndhlovu Masvingo Province - Maj. Gen. E. A. Rugeje Rtd. Maj. Gen. Gibson Mashingaidze, Rtd. Brig. General Rangwani Bikita West - Maj. B. R. Murwira Chiredzi Central - Col. G. Mashava Chiredzi West - Maj. E. Gono Gutu South - Maj. Chimedza (Medical Doctor), AVM Muchena Masvingo - Lt. Col. Takavingofa Mwenezi West - Lt. Col. Muchono Zaka East - Maj. R. Kwenda Mash West Province - Brig. Gen. Sigauke Chinhoyi - Col Gwekwerere Chegutu East - Lt. Colonel W. Tutisa Hurungwe East - Lt. Col. B. Mahambe Mhondoro Mubaira - Col. C. T. Gurira Zvimba North - Cpt. T. Majongwe Mashonaland East - Brig. Gen. D. Nyikayaramba, Rtd Brig Gen Rungani Chikomba Central - Lt. Col. Marara Goromonzi North - Lt. Col. Mudzimba, Maj. F. Mbewe Marondera Central - Maj. Gen. Chedondo COSG), Lt. Col. B. Kashiri Marondera West - Squadron Leader U. Chitauro Murehwa South - Maj. Gurure Murehwa North - Lt. Col. Mukurazhizha, Lt. Col. Chinete
Bhasikiti claimed that the military takes orders from Mugabe alone, who is commander in chief of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces.
President Mugabe in 2008 had said that MDC was responsible for the violence in Zimbabwe and ordered police to use "all necessary force" against opposition activists.
Following the shocking defeat in the polls , Bhasikiti says Mugabe turned to the army, arguing that the party structures lacked capacity to mount an effective campaign.
Some ruling party Members of Parliament were even accused of sabotaging President Mugabe's election campaign.
Tsvangirai claimed that Zimbabwe in 2008 had undergone a de-facto coup d'état as the military had effectively overthrown the democratic electoral processes.
In March 2008 Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Constantine Chiwenga, signaled his readiness to set aside the constitution should Mugabe be defeated at the polls.
Senior Zanu-PF officials said to have been behind the bloody campaign include Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, General Chiwenga, Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri, Air Marshall Perence Shiri, Major General Paradzayi Zimondi, the prisons chief, and ousted spy chief, Didymus Mutasa.
MDC alleges that about 150 of its supporters were killed in the campaign and tens of thousands forced to flee their homes due to political violence.
THE FULL LIST OF THE 2008 MILITARY DEPLOYMENTS
The following are military personnel deployed to lead and run ZANU-PF election campaigns in April 2008:
Harare Metropolitan Province - AVM Michael Karakadzai. Bulawayo - Province Col. C. Sibanda Bulawayo Central - Maj. J. Ndlovu and Maj. J. Ncube Manicaland and Mutare South - Brig. Tarumbwa
Buhera Central - Col. M. Mzilikazi (MID) Buhera North - Maj. L. M. Svosve Buhera South - Maj. D Muchena Buhera West - Lt. Col. Kamonge, Major Nhachi Chimanimani East - Lt. Col Murecherwa Chimanimani West - Maj. Mabvuu Headlands - Col. Mutsvunguma Makoni North - Maj. V. Chisuko Makoni South - Wing Commander Mandeya Mutare Central - Lt. Col. Tsodzai, Lt. Col. Sedze, Mandi Chimene Mutare West - Lt. Col. B. Kashiri Mutare North - Lt. Col. Chizengwe, Lt. Col. Mazaiwana Mashonaland Central - Brig.Gen. Shungu Bindura South - Col. Chipwere Bindura North - Lt. Col. Parwada Muzarabani North - Lt. Col. Kazaza Muzarabani South - Maj. H. Maziri Rushinga - Col. F Mhonda, Lt. Col. Betheuni Shamva North - Lt. Col. Dzuda Shamva South - Makumire Midlands - AVM Muchena, Brig. Gen. S. B. Moyo, Lt Col. Kuhuni Chirumanzu South - Maj T. Tsvangirai Mberengwa East - Col. B. Mavire Mberengwa West - Maj. T. Marufu Matebeleland South - AVM Abu Basutu Beitbridge East - Group Cpt. Mayera, Rtd. Maj. Mbedzi, Lt. Col. B. Moyo Gwanda South - Maj. J. D. Moyo Gwanda Central - Maj. B. Tshuma Matopo North - Lt. Col. Maphosa Matebeleland North - Brig. Gen. Khumalo Binga North - Maj. E. S. Matonga Lupane East - Lt. Col. Mkwananzi Lupane West - Lt. Col. Mabhena Tsholotsho - Lt. Col. Mlalazi Hwange Central - Lt. Col. P. Ndhlovu Masvingo Province - Maj. Gen. E. A. Rugeje Rtd. Maj. Gen. Gibson Mashingaidze, Rtd. Brig. General Rangwani Bikita West - Maj. B. R. Murwira Chiredzi Central - Col. G. Mashava Chiredzi West - Maj. E. Gono Gutu South - Maj. Chimedza (Medical Doctor), AVM Muchena Masvingo - Lt. Col. Takavingofa Mwenezi West - Lt. Col. Muchono Zaka East - Maj. R. Kwenda Mash West Province - Brig. Gen. Sigauke Chinhoyi - Col Gwekwerere Chegutu East - Lt. Colonel W. Tutisa Hurungwe East - Lt. Col. B. Mahambe Mhondoro Mubaira - Col. C. T. Gurira Zvimba North - Cpt. T. Majongwe Mashonaland East - Brig. Gen. D. Nyikayaramba, Rtd Brig Gen Rungani Chikomba Central - Lt. Col. Marara Goromonzi North - Lt. Col. Mudzimba, Maj. F. Mbewe Marondera Central - Maj. Gen. Chedondo COSG), Lt. Col. B. Kashiri Marondera West - Squadron Leader U. Chitauro Murehwa South - Maj. Gurure Murehwa North - Lt. Col. Mukurazhizha, Lt. Col. Chinete
Source - VOA Zimbabwe
