(TALKZIMBABWE) Don't tamper with Defence Forces, says Mugabe

Don't tamper with Defence Forces, says Mugabe
TSM/TZG
Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:01:00 +0000

President Robert Mugabe gestures as he addresses party supporters at the official opening of the Zanu PF's 5th National People's Congress at the Harare International Conference Centre December 11, 2009. President Mugabe condemned internal fighting over leadership posts, saying this was tearing apart the Zanu PF party and emboldening its opponents. REUTERS

THE inclusive Government should never tamper with the Defence Forces as they are the only group that can protect and guarantee Zimbabwe's sovereignty, said President Mugabe.

Speaking at the closing of the Fifth Zanu PF National People's Congress in Harare on Saturday, President Mugabe, who is also the Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces, said the Zanla and Zipra Forces made up Zimbabwe's army and were the most dependable to protect Zimbabwe's sovereignty.

“Zipra and Zanla forces constituted the basis of our national army and air force,” he said.

“That is the most dependable force and it shall not be tampered with.

"The enemy wants to see it disintegrated, but any tactics to tamper with it will never be tolerated.”

The president said party supporters should brace for tough work ahead to ensure the progress made by Zanu PF was not reversed.

He also said there was a need to avoid complacency, to stop imposing candidates and desist from factionalism.

Regarding the elections President Mugabe said they are not far away, as the inclusive Government, which is supposed to be the benchmark for the plebiscite, has served over half of its life.

The elections are expected at the expiry of the inclusive Government, which was given about 24 months starting from February this year by the negotiators of the agreement which led to its formation.

“Elections are not very far off. The inclusive Government was given a short life — 18 months, 24 months — and then it goes. The remaining part is very short. Perhaps it has outlived its life.”

President Mugabe said Zanu PF must remain focused even if it was in the inclusive Government, as there were some characters who wanted to reverse its objectives.

“We are the authors of the present turnaround through the pre-inclusive budget which ushered in multiple currency,” said President Mugabe.

“We thought about the multiple currency before the inclusive Government and when it came it merely took up the ideas.”

The President said Zanu PF members should not be too ambitious in a bid to make themselves gurus of the party.

“We are going to drive the engine now at top gear,” said President. “You should be ready for it. It is now uphill. You must go uphill, uphill.”

President Mugabe said Zanu PF must not be divided along ethnic lines as this made it easy for the enemy to penetrate.

He said there were some in the inclusive Government who wanted to sabotage land reform by failing to provide funds for inputs.
“The inputs are nowhere,” he said.

“Yesterday we were told that there will be money, but it is not there.”

President Mugabe announced to the delegates that the party had received US$10 million from donors, which would be used to purchase inputs to be distributed in various parts of the country.

He said the congress had been a success despite predictions by the party’s enemies that it would be a failure.

“We have dealt with all matters on the agenda, tackling even those areas where angels would have feared to tread,” said President Mugabe.

“We go back a stronger, better focused party, ready and raring to take on the enemy who sought our ruin.”