Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Sibusiso Moyo, has said that the government will not be using the army to crush demonstrations in the future.
In a statement to mark the first anniversary of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure, Moyo said:
And so that recourse to the military will be avoided. Part of that re-training has focused on human rights-related aspects of policing and law-enforcement more generally, and has been well-received and appreciated by all those involved.
He said the re-training programmes enhanced State security personnel’s ability to handle public disorders.
Moyo’s remarks are a departure from those of Defence Minister, Oppah Muchinguri and her Deputy, Victor Matemadanda, who threatened to unleash the army, “trained to kill” in the event that protests erupt. They were addressing war veterans and war collaborators at a President Mnangagwa “thank you” rally in Gweru over the weekend.
Moyo’s remarks again coincide with the one year anniversary of August 1, 2018, violence which resulted in deaths of seven civilians after soldiers and the police shot live ammunition at protesting MDC supporters.
The protesters were marching against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission which they accused of conniving with the ruling ZANU PF in manipulating the election in favour of ZANU PF presidential candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
This event preceded a related violent demonstration in January this year in which the soldiers are also said to have brutalised and shot many civilians.
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