Mugabe set to appoint more retired soldiers to politburo

By Tichaona Sibanda
12 June 2006

The Zimbabwe Standard reported on Sunday that there are plans to appoint senior military officers to Zanu PF's top decision-making body, the Politburo.

The weekly newspaper said it appears Robert Mugabe is intent on forging ahead with plans to militarise all state institutions ahead of his retirement.
The militarisation of the ruling party will also see its Central Committee having a large representation of retired army officers.

MDC national executive committee member and Mutare North legislator Giles Mutsekwa said his party has known for the past fours years that Mugabe has lost a political base that will back him after he retires.

He said Mugabe is mistaken in believing that a heavily militarised government that would take over from him, would not try him for any rights violations carried out under his administration.

‘Mugabe is reading his politics wrong. It’s a wrong assumption to believe the military will back him after he retires. I have always said the military will support a democratic government of the day and there would no exception if the MDC takes power in Zimbabwe,’ Mutsekwa said.

The military is gradually assuming a significant role in the running of the country, with serving and retired soldiers serving on boards of many parastatals, including sports.

One of the most loyal generals under Mugabe, Major General Amoth Chimombe, has retired and is earmarked to be appointed a politburo member to replace the late Josiah Tungamirai. Tungamirai was a former Air Marshall of the Airforce of Zimbabwe.

Chimombe, a military instructor at Mgagao camp in Tanzania during the liberation war, is best known for raising the Zimbabwe flag on 18 April 1980 during the independence celebrations at Rufaro stadium. He had earlier lowered the Union Jack which he handed over to Prince Charles.