SA fortnight after the fall of Zimbabwe’s former president, Robert Mugabe, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces have maintained a considerable presence on the streets of Harare and the country’s major highways prompting Coalition of Democrats leader, Elton Mangoma to register his dissatisfaction saying they should return to barracks and stop involving themselves in duties that are not theirs.
By Leopold Munhende
In an interview with 263Chat, Mangoma said the army had no business in conducting patrols in the streets- duties reserved for the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
“The military wants to do duties that are not theirs and they want people to get used to it so that if they continue to meddle including elections they will be nothing amiss.
“The army should go back into the barracks, the police must do their work as mandated to them. Zimbabweans showed that they were extremely peaceful, they were millions in the streets and no window was broken.
“We thoroughly condemn it and we will fight it, the army has to go back into the barracks,” said Mangoma.
The Army is currently undertaking joint patrols and operations with the Zimbabwe Republic Police while tankers have not been moved at Chikurubi Camp and other areas they believe are unpredictable.
Meanwhile, Mayor of Harare, Benard Manyenyeni could not comment on the role of soldiers in the operation to rid the city of vendors saying it was a directive from the central government not the local authority.
“(The operation is) by order of central government not council,” said Manyenyeni.
National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA) has condemned the use of military personnel to push vendors out of the CBD.
Writing on Twitter, NERA said, It is so sad #Mnangagwa just like Mugabe has today resolved to use military force to push vendors out of #HreCBD. Vendors mean no harm to the government but just want a life.
