The military is neutral - defence minister

Zimbabwean Defence Minister Moven Mahachi said on Wednesday that the country’s armed forces were “not in any way” involved in the occupation of more than 700 white-owned farms or other political activities.

Speaking at a news conference in the capital, Harare, Mahachi said the defence forces had received “unwarranted, speculative and negative” publicity since the invasions and violence against opposition political activists started two months ago.

“Media speculation and misinformation about the involvement of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in the farm occupations by war veterans and other political activities has been rife,” Mahachi said. “The reports are disturbing and alarming as they portray a negative image of our defence forces. It has therefore become imperative for me in my capacity as the minister of defence to put the record straight: I wish to state categorically that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces are not in any way involved in the occupation of commercial farms or in any activities of a political nature.”

The armed forces he said remained a-political, non-partisan and professional.

“Their professionalism has been proven wherever they have operated in Somalia, Angola, Rwanda, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” he said. “The United Nations has trust in our professionalism, conduct and reputation. Implicating the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in partisan political activities tarnishes its internal and international image. The fact that the military leadership is predominantly ex-combatants does not automatically make them partisan.”