The paradox of security sector reforms

The opposition parties in Zimbabwe and MDC in particular have been clamoring for security sector reforms and the noises reached another crescendo recently after Constantine Chiwenga, the commander of Zimbabwe's Defence Forces (ZDF) made comments on the goings-on in the ZANU PF party in alleged violation of the Defence Act which prohibits affiliation to any political party. Whilst on the other hand, the opposition political parties' calls for  security "reforms" have been premised on a misconception that there is a security forces' hand in ensuring that ZANU PF remains in power at the exclusion of any other party.

This romanticism of the complex issue was also espoused by Knox Chitiyo, an academic and former University of Zimbabwe War Studies and Military History lecturer who said that "The post-2000 formalisation of the alliance between Zanu PF and the security sector was designed to prevent the MDC's access to the levers of state power".

Whilst Maxwell Saungweme, an international development analyst based in Afghanistan seems also to believe that MDC has to do more that get votes thus, should have "… the ability to infiltrate and influence security structures that manipulate polls".  

The acrimonious relationship between the opposition political parties and security forces has seen insults and gibes being traded between the two parties. The MDC has cautious in its approach not wanting to antagonise the security forces who have already indicated that they won't salute anyone without war credentials. On the other hand security forces have not hid their disdain of the opposition with ZDF commander, Chiwenga telling Tsvangirai in 2013 that he was "a psychiatric patient who needs a competent psychiatrist".

Apparently Chamisa, one of the newly appointed vice president in the opposition MDC-T seems to concur with Acie Lumumba, the renegade ex ZANU PF member sentiments who recently told a local newspaper that "the military is perhaps the game changer. MDC is doomed because the military today will never allow their presidency".

Hence, Chamisa has been on a charming offensive of security forces with recent sentiments alluding to the fact that the party won't purge the security forces if ever it comes into power. Chamisa is also making overtures to expelled war veterans from ZANU PF with a sole purpose of earning credibility by association since security forces made their hard truth apparent they won't salute anyone without war credentials.   

Whether erroneous or true, MDC have believed line, hook and sinker that the security forces have a say in who comes into power. The party still believes that if it were not for security forces it could have assumed power in 2008 when they failed to get 50 plus 1 percent, an issue that still spark heated debate amongst Zimbabweans.

What the opposition in Zimbabwe is forgetting is that these institutions are bound by the constitution with the sole aim of protecting the people of Zimbabwe and its territorial integrity. Chapter 11 of the Constitution clearly spells out how security forces should conduct themselves "…to protect Zimbabwe, its people, its national security and interests and its territorial integrity and to uphold this Constitution".

To date security forces have done their duties to the best of their ability, hence Zimbabwe has known peace these three decades and half. The point the writer is making let's not drag security forces in the political and succession debates as that is stripping the electorate of their power duly apportioned by the constitution to elect leaders into power.

Opposition political parties are wrong in thinking that they are failing to get power because of security forces. Here, opposition political parties are groping in the dark as is the norm, they have a million reasons why they have failed to get into the echelons of power.

We have heard of how Nikuv manipulated elections results in the past. Or how the electoral commission is partisan in favour of Zanu PF or how the security forces have manipulated results. This trait of only blaming others for one's misfortune is a serious character flaw that prevents someone from seeing and rectifying one's weaknesses.

As regard security forces being partisan, we should accept Aristotle, a Greek philosophers' conclusion that "man is by nature a political animal" lest our utopian expectations suffer a major blow.

What the opposition is forgetting is that these are people appointed by President Robert Mugabe after having shown that they have the same vision and aspirations, hence as much as the constitution dictates that they be apolitical, they will always support the government of the day that appointed them into those positions.  

President Mugabe in 2013 hit the nail on the head when he said in an interview "Every one of the commanders from the police, air force, army, then combined forces, prison service, they all are commanders deriving from the struggle. All of them, they fought the struggle. Tsvangirai ran away from the struggle."

Hence to Chamisa and other opposition parties, it's not the security forces that you should charming but the voters of Zimbabwe who have the power to elect you to the positions you aspire. Cheap politicking won't get opposition parties anywhere, as the people who need convincing are the electorate not the security forces.

If you have unsound policies, uninspiring leadership and lack the charisma that gets you elected then you have no-one but yourself to blame.

If, that is a big IF Tsvangirai gets into power then he can have security sector reforms to his heart's content. For now leave the security forces alone to execute their duties.