ZIMBABWE
An organisation representing Zimbabwe’s war veterans is demanding an overhaul of the country’s Public Service, claiming it has proof that some Government workers are aiding the Opposition by supporting protests.
Spokesperson for the National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA), Douglas Mahiya said any overhaul should include removal of those individuals who were behaving in a manner that embarrassed the Government.
Mr Mahiya’s comments followed days of violent protests over President, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s decision to raise fuel prices by 150 per cent.
Hundreds have been arrested, including soldiers, police officers and Zanu-PF supporters, among the hundreds of Opposition members.
Mr Mahiya insisted on apportioning the blame to the Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and warned that war veterans would take the law into their own hands if police “fail to do justice” to the MDC supporters, some of whom had been arrested over the violence.
He said PS employees had used their positions to force citizens to participate in the demonstrations.
“The way the demonstrations were organised, the nature of the deployment and tactics all point to a well-trained army in force which openly belongs to the opposition MDC, which is trying to get power through the back door,” Mr Mahiya said.
Leader of the ZNLWVA, Christopher Mutsvangwa said his organisation would not allow Zimbabwe to degenerate into a failed state as had happened in countries such as Somalia, Afghanistan and Libya.
Harare, 20 January 2019
