Zimbabwe's defence chiefs issue threats on election eve

Zimbabwe's defence chiefs issue threats on election eve

WARNING: Zimbabwe's defence chiefs. L-R Perence Shiri, Phillip Sibanda, Constantine Chiwenga and insert Augustine Chihuri

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By Lebo Nkatazo

ZIMBABWE'S security chiefs on Friday said the military and police had been placed on high alert to quell any Kenyan-style post-election violence after Saturday's general elections.

In a statement, the Commander of the Defence Forces General Contastine Chiwenga, the Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant General Phillip Sibanda, Airforce of Zimbabwe Commander Air Marshall Perrence Shiri, the Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Republic Police Augustine Chihuri, the Director General of the Central Intelligence Organisation retired major general Happyton Bonyongwe, and the Commissioner of Prisons Paradzai Zimondi said enough forces have been deployed countrywide to maintain order.

The defence chiefs refused to take questions from journalists at a press conference held at the Police General Headquarters in Harare.

“We wish to advice the nation that all the defence and security forces of Zimbabwe are on full alert from now onwards covering the election period and beyond. May we remind everyone that those who think and do evil must fear, for the Defence and Security Forces are up to the task in thwarting all threats to national security,” the defence chiefs said in a statement.

“Also, those who have been breathing fire about Kenyan-style violence should be warned that violence is a poor substitute for intelligence and that it is a monster that can favour its creator, as it is blind and not selective in nature.”

The defence chiefs said after voting, everyone must go to their homes and await the election result.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been telling his supporters at rallies that on voting day, they should go home, eat and come back to the polling stations to await the announcement of results for purposes of “defending their vote”.

Counting of ballots would be done at polling stations with the results being displayed at a particular station.

The defence chiefs said it would be a crime for someone to declare himself the winner of the poll as that announcement must be done by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission - a direct threat to the MDC which said it would declare victory after compiling its own numbers.

“The authority of counting votes and announcing the winners is vested in the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) in accordance with the law. We warn anyone of such inclination that we will not tolerate any such pronouncements as they have the effect of trying to take the law into their own hands thereby fermenting disorder and mayhem. Everyone is therefore advised to follow the law,” the defence chiefs added.

They accused some media houses of varying “exaggerated reports”.

The defence chiefs said they were guaranteeing peace and order after the polls.

They added: “In conclusion ladies and gentlemen, we reiterate that violence does not discriminate on its victims. It has the capacity to injure and take lives of both perpetrators and the innocent. We discourage acts that could lead to anarchy.

“On our part we are without doubt ready to carry our constitutional obligations without fear and favour. May the almighty God bless our only motherland- Zimbabwe.”

In recent weeks, the defence chiefs have individually issued statements saying they will not salute "puppets" - a term used by President Robert Mugabe to refer to his main opponents, Morgan Tsvangirai and Simba Makoni.

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