‘Army subservient to civilian authority’

Commander Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant-General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi (centre) signs an order confirming the handover of Headquarters Mechanised Brigade command to Brigadier-General Stanford Kufa (right) from outgoing commander Brigadier-General Raban Nikisi (left) at Inkomo Barracks yesterday

Walter Nyamukondiwa

Mashonaland West Bureau Chief

THE country’s military should not involve itself in political matters, including the ongoing Constitutional Amendment process, but wait to execute and implement the outcome of political processes, Commander Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant-General Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi has said.

The world over, he said, there was no country where the military was involved in the crafting of the constitution, but armies were subject to civilian authority.

Speaking at the handover and takeover ceremony of command at the Headquarters Mechanised Brigade in Inkomo yesterday, Lt-Gen Tapfumaneyi said the army’s role was to maintain peace.

Brigadier-General Stanford Kufa took over command of Headquarters Mechanised Brigade from Brigadier-General Raban Nikisi, who is set to further his education in Nigeria.

“In instances, as we have now, where the Constitution is being written or amended, we can’t be involved in dissecting and coming to the conclusion that the power of the military has been usurped or that powers have been whittled. What power?”

He said the operative power derived from the Constitution was not authored by the military.

“Are we even authors of the powers that we purport to have? Who among you wrote the Constitution? Did you (Brig Gen) Nikisi and (Brig Gen) Kufa write the Constitution? So, as it is being written now, why should you be involved?”

He said the army followed instructions and authority from the country’s leadership.

“We get our instructions as the army from the leadership of the country and execute them to perfection,” he said.

“There is no country under the sun, whether you want to call it a democracy or dictatorship, where the army took part in writing the Constitution.”

He said there was no army in the world which had the duty to correct a Government or had the duty of firing a Government that was not performing well in their opinion.

The army is subservient to civilian authority and should not dabble in politics, said the ZNA commander.

Currently, the country is in the middle of amending the Constitution, through Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3, which is expected to ensure continuity of the country’s development trajectory and ensure stability and progress.

Turning to the change of guard at Headquarters Mechanised Brigade, Lt-Gen Tapfumaneyi said the incoming commander should consolidate on the milestones reached by his predecessor.

Brig-Gen Nikisi, he said, had excelled in improving civil-military relations and ensuring that the formation was ready to fulfil its mandate.

The outgoing commander had managed to build a classroom administration block at Witchen High School, a boys’ hostel at St. Michael’s School and Chief Ngezi’s court in Mhondoro, among other projects.

He said the incoming commander, Brig-Gen Kufa, was a seasoned military man who had distinguished himself in several missions and assignments, including participating in the liberation struggle.

Brig-Gen Nikisi wished his successor well as he took over the formation.

He said he leaves Headquarters Mechanised Brigade a happy and satisfied man.

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