Tsvangirai meets Generals in groundbreaking meeting
By Tichaona Sibanda
30 July 2009

The Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and the country’s powerful service chiefs met on Thursday in Harare, the first such meeting at the highest political level since the formation of the inclusive government.

A highly placed source in government told us the two hour meeting, which was chaired by Robert Mugabe was ‘very cordial.’

Up until Thursday, there has been fierce resistance to the formal constituting of the National Security Council (NSC) among the service chiefs, who see the establishment of the new security organ as a threat to their hitherto unchallenged power.

Dismissing advance predictions that the meeting would be confrontational or tense, our source told us the meeting was ‘very good,’ and that Tsvangirai and the service chiefs joked with each other after the meeting.

Minister of State for Security Sydney Sekeramayi said the meeting was warm, cordial and inclusive, and placed national interests ahead of everything else, which was the point of convergence for all participants.

In a statement Sekeramayi said the central theme of the meeting was the common need for Zimbabwe to have peace in order to create a conducive environment for economic development.
The NSC replaces the shadowy Joint Operations Command (JOC), a committee of the security chiefs said by analysts to be the real power behind Mugabe. Parliament passed the National Security Council Bill in February, which analysts believe once it’s up and running will tame the excesses of the country’s security forces.

A retired army colonel told us the service chiefs stand to benefit more if they work with the inclusive government. More importantly, added the colonel, as the relationship between Tsvangirai and the Service Chiefs improves so will their hold on power loosen.

“Today was an informal meeting, but I bet as they meet more frequently the issues of violence, the past and their immunity will be brought up in future meetings,’ the Colonel said.

The NSC consists of Mugabe as Chairperson, his two deputies Joice Mujuru and Joseph Msika, Tsvangirai and his deputies Arthur Mutambara and Thokozani Khupe, Finance Minister Tendai Biti, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, Security Minister Sydney Sekeramayi and the two Home Affairs Ministers Giles Mutsekwa and Kembo Mohadi.

Significantly, the service chiefs are relegated to the role of ex-officio members of the council. The service chiefs are Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Constantine Chiwenga, army Commander Lt Gen Phillip Sibanda, Air Marshall Perence Shiri and Commissioner-General of Police, Augustine Chihuri.

Commissioner of Prisons Retired Major-General Paradzai Zimondi and the Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation, Happyton Bonyongwe, also sit on the council.