Former Defence Forces chief Vitalis Zvinavashe made headlines in January 2002 when he held a press conference at which he said the security forces would not support or salute anyone with a different agenda that threatened the very existence of Zimbabwe’s sovereignty, the country and its people.
The press conference, just weeks before the presidential elections in which Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai was challenging President Robert Mugabe, was seen as a rebuff of Tsvangirai.
According to a transcript of the press conference provided by the United States embassy in a cable dispatched on 10 January 2002, Zvinavashe said:
“We wish to make it very clear to all Zimbabwean citizens that the security organizations will only stand in support of those political leaders that will pursue Zimbabwean values, traditions and beliefs for which thousands of lives were lost, in pursuit of Zimbabwe’s hard won independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests.
“To this end, let it be known that the highest office on the land is a “straight jacket” whose occupant is expected to observe the objectives of the liberation struggle.
“We will therefore not accept, let alone support or salute anyone with a different agenda that threatens the very existence of our sovereignty, our country and our people.”
Zvinavashe also criticised the independent press for writing what he termed false stories.
Media houses were in business but they must not generate profits out of false reports that discredited the leadership and membership of security organizations.
He cited the following stories as examples:
Full cable:
Viewing cable 02HARARE107, TRANSCRIPT OF THE JANUARY 9 PRESS BRIEF BY
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
101406Z Jan 02
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ2114
PAGE 01 HARARE 00107 01 OF 03 101512Z
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SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 VC-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01
DCP-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 CAEX-01 PA-00
PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00
STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /011W
——————55E87E 101512Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0709
SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HARARE 000107
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF AND AF/S
NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
E.O. 12958: N/A
SUBJECT: TRANSCRIPT OF THE JANUARY 9 PRESS BRIEF BY
ZIMBABWEAN SECURITY CHIEFS
REF: HARARE 104
FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THE JANUARY 9 PRESS
BRIEF BY ZIMBABWEAN SECURITY CHIEFS, DELIVERED BY ZDF FORCE
COMMANDER VITALIS ZVINAVASHE.
BEGIN TEXT:
¶1. OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A MARKED INCREASE
IN SPECULATIVE, IMAGINARY AND FALSE ARTICLES BY THE SO-
CALLED INDEPENDENT MEDIA BOTH INTERNALLY AND
INTERNATIONALLY, ON THE STATUS AND OPERATIONS OF THE
NATIONAL SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS. THESE STATEMENTS HAVE
CAUSED INSECURITY, UNCERTAINTY, CONFUSION AND HAVE IN THE
MAIN TARNISHED THE CREDIBILITY OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ARMS
OF THE STATE OF ZIMBABWE.
¶2. ALL THESE MACHINATIONS HAVE PROMPTED THE CONVENING OF
THIS PRESS BRIEF TO ARTICULATE THE POSITION OF THE SECURITY
FORCES WHOSE CONSTITUTIONAL ROLE IS THE DEFENSE OF ZIMBABWE
AND ITS INTERESTS.
¶3. ZIMBABWEANS FOUGHT A BITTER AND PROTRACTED STRUGGLE TO
LIBERATE THEMSELVES FROM IMPERIALISM, COLONIALISM,
SETTLERISM AND ALL FORMS OF NEO-COLONIALISM. THE OBJECTIVE
OF THIS BITTER STRUGGLE WAS TO ATTAIN POLITICAL, ECONOMIC,
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY. THIS
WOULD ENSURE THAT ZIMBABWEANS RESTORE THEIR DIGNITY,
RESPECT, FREEDOM AND SECURITY LONG DENIED THEM BY THEIR
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 HARARE 00107 01 OF 03 101512Z
SETTLER COLONIZERS. IN THE PROCESS OF STRIVING TO ACHIEVE
THESE VALUES, OVER 50,000 ZIMBABWEANS PERISHED, THOUSANDS
WERE JAILED, MAIMED AND MANY MORE LEFT HOMELESS AND WITHOUT
PARENTS OR CHILDREN DURING THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE.
¶4. TO SAFEGUARD OUR HISTORY, INDEPENDENCE, SOVEREIGNTY,
TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL HERITAGE AND
ZIMBABWE’S DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL INTERESTS, THE
SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS COMPRISING THE ZNA, AFZ, POLICE, CIO
AND THE PRISON SERVICE WERE ESTABLISHED AS PROVIDED FOR IN
THE CONSTITUTION OF ZIMBABWE. THIS CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION
IS NOT ONLY APPLICABLE TO ZIMBABWE BUT IS UNIVERSALLY
ACCEPTED AND PRACTICED.
¶5. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR HARD-WON
INDEPENDENCE, SOVEREIGNTY, NATIONAL HERITAGE, DIGNITY,
CULTURE, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INTERESTS ARE PROTECTED AT ALL
COSTS. FORTUNATELY FOR ZIMBABWEANS, THE SECURITY
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A LEADERSHIP THAT WAS PART OF THE BITTER
STRUGGLE FOR LIBERATION. THIS STRUGGLE DEVELOPED POLITICAL
CADIES WHO HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF ZIMBABWE’S HISTORY,
VALUES AND DESTINY. HIGH TRAINING STANDARDS AND IRON-CLAD
DISCIPLINE HAS CREATED HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL ARMS OF SECURITY
WHICH HAVE GENERATED A SENSE OF SECURITY AND TRUST AT HOME,
AND HIGH REGARD INTERNATIONALLY.
¶6. ANY NATION, AND ZIMBABWE IS NO EXCEPTION, HAS SECURITY
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GOVERNED BY LAWS, RULES AND
REGULATIONS DEFINED BY THE CONSTITUTION TO STREAMLINE AND
ENHANCE THEIR OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THESE SYSTEMS ARE NOT
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 HARARE 00107 01 OF 03 101512Z
ESTABLISHED BY INDIVIDUALS OR INCUMBENTS HOLDING EXISTING
POSTS BUT ARE MEANT TO SERVE SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS. SO
ZIMBABWEANS SHOULD KNOW THAT THE SYSTEMS IN PLACE AT THE
MOMENT ARE PRIMARILY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE
CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ZIMBABWEANS.
¶7. THERE IS THEREFORE NEED FOR ZIMBABWEANS TO RESPECT THESE
CONSTITUTIONALLY ESTABLISHED SYSTEMS BECAUSE FAILURE TO DO
SO WOULD RESULT IN INSTABILITY, LAWLESSNESS AND ULTIMATELY,
ANARCHY. THE IMPACT OF MALICIOUS DISRESPECT AND GENERALIZED
MALIGNING OF SECURITY ARMS OF THE STATE IS THAT SOCIETY
LOSES CONFIDENCE IN THE SECURITY ESTABLISHMENT THEREBY
UNDERMINING THE SECURITY OF THE NATION.
¶8. GIVEN THAT THE ZIMBABWEAN SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE
LEARNT A LOT OF LESSONS FROM SITUATIONS OF ANARCHY
REGIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY: FOR EXAMPLE IN SOMALIA,
RWANDA, ANGOLA, SIERRA LEONE, KOSOVO, EAST TIMOR AND DRC,
THEY NATURALLY, CANNOT ALLOW SUCH SITUATION TO DEVELOP IN
ZIMBABWE. OUR RECORD IN CONTRIBUTING TO PEACE IN NEARLY ALL
THESE COUNTRIES BEARS TESTIMONY TO OUR CAPABILITIES. ALL
THIS CLEARLY AND IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS DEFINE THE HISTORY OF
ZIMBABWE AND ITS PEOPLE, FOR A PEOPLE WITHOUT A HISTORY ARE
A PEOPLE WITHOUT A DESTINY. EQUALLY, A PEOPLE WITHOUT
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ2115
PAGE 01 HARARE 00107 02 OF 03 101512Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00
SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 VC-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01
DCP-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 CAEX-01 PA-00
PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00
STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /011W
——————55E899 101512Z /38
O 101406Z JAN 02
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0710
SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 HARARE 000107
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF AND AF/S
NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
E.O. 12958: N/A
SUBJECT: TRANSCRIPT OF THE JANUARY 9 PRESS BRIEF BY
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 HARARE 00107 02 OF 03 101512Z
ZIMBABWEAN SECURITY CHIEFS
PEACE, LAW AND ORDER CANNOT DEVELOP.
¶9. WHILE IT IS THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA TO INFORM AND EDUCATE
THE PUBLIC, THERE IS NEED FOR THE MEDIA TO UNDERSTAND THE
FOLLOWING WITH REGARDS TO SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS:
¶A. THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POLITICAL AND
SECURITY SYSTEMS. IT THEREFORE FOLLOWS THAT IN THE PROCESS
OF PROVIDING INFORMATION, THE MEDIA MUST SEPARATE THE TWO.
¶B. ATTACKS ON INDIVIDUALS BASED ON CONTRIVED INFORMATION
BY THE MEDIA USING EXISTING SECURITY ORGANIZATION SYSTEMS
BREED MISUNDERSTANDINGS, MISTRUST, DIVISIONS AND UNDERMINE
THE CREDIBILITY OF THE SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS. TYPICAL
EXAMPLES ARE:
(1) COUP REPORT BY RAY CHOTO/MARK CHAVHUNDUKA
(2) THE ALLEGED BURIAL OF A SOLIDER WITHOUT A HEAD BY GRACE
KWINJEH
(3) DRC REPORTS ON ALLEGED LOOTING BY ZIMBABWEAN MILITARY
AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP
(4) ATTACKS ON THE PERSON AND OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
(5) MASARA-NYAROTA REPORT
(6) ALLEGATIONS OF POLITICAL VICTIMIZATION BY PRISON
OFFICERS. IN ALL THESE CASES, NO IOTA OF EVIDENCE WAS
PROVIDED.
(7) FINGAZ REPORT BY DAVID MASUNDA ALLEGING THAT THE
SECURITY CHIEFS HAD ADVISED THE PRESIDENT TO GO.
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 03 HARARE 00107 02 OF 03 101512Z
¶C. WHILST IT IS KNOWN THAT MEDIA HOUSES ARE IN BUSINESS,
THEY MUST NOT GENERATE PROFITS OUT OF FALSE REPORTS THAT
DISCREDIT THE LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP OF SECURITY
ORGANIZATIONS.
¶D. SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS BY THEIR NATURE ARE SENSITIVE
INSTITUTIONS AND THE SAME APPLIES TO THE INCUMBENT
LEADERSHIP. THIS IS NOT A NEW POINT TO MAKE AS THIS
SENSITIVITY IS KNOWN AND RESPECTED IN AND BY ALL SOCIETIES
OF THE WORLD, INCLUDING INSTITUTIONS I THOSE SOCIETIES. IT
IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT THAT MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS VERIFY
REPORTS ON SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS PRIOR TO THEIR
PUBLICATION. MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT
INDIVIDUALS IN SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS
LIKE ANY OTHER CITIZEN OF ZIMBABWE.
¶E. THE MEDIA SHOULD NOT CREATE SITUATIONS THAT INVITE THE
SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BE INVOLVED. OUR EXPERIENCES HAVE
SHOWN THAT WHEN SITUATIONS DETERIORATE AND SECURITY FORCES
ARE CALLED UP, IT IS USUALLY THE INNOCENT MAJORITY WHO
SUFFER MOST. FURTHERMORE, EXPERIENCE ALSO SHOWS THAT
MISREPRESENTATION OF FACTS BY THE MEDIA HAVE RESULTED IN
CONFLICTS.
¶10. WE ARE THEREFORE ADVISING ALL CITIZENS OF ZIMBABWE THAT
ANY REPORTS AND ACTIONS DESIGNED TO CREATE INSTABILITY IN
ZIMBABWE WILL BE MET BY THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW. THIS
WILL INCLUDE ENFORCEMENT, WHERE IT IS DEEMED NECESSARY.
INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ANSWERABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. THE LAW
WILL TAKE ITS COURSE TO ENSURE THAT ZIMBABWE’S INDEPENDENCE,
TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND SOVEREIGNTY, WHICH TO A LARGE
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 04 HARARE 00107 02 OF 03 101512Z
EXTEND DEPEND ON UPHOLDING THE VALUES AND GOOD NAME OF THE
SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE PRESERVED.
¶11. SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE THEREFORE APPEALING TO OUR
PARLIAMENTARIANS TO ENACT LAWS THAT PROTECT OUR SOVEREIGNTY
AND INDEPENDENCE AND THAT SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THE
MAJORITY OF ZIMBABWEANS.
¶12. THE SECURITY ORGANIZATIONS WANT ZIMBABWEANS TO CAMPAIGN
AND VOTE IN A PEACEFUL MANNER. THERE SHOULD BE NO
ENCOURAGEMENT OF VIOLENCE AND POLITICAL LEADERS AND THEIR
FOLLOWERS SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. SECURITY
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE RESOLVED TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT
CONDUCIVE TO A PEACEFUL ELECTORAL PROCESS.
¶13. IN PURSUING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, THE SECURITY
ORGANIZATIONS ARE GUIDED BY TWO CRUCIAL VALUES. THE FIRST
AND MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT THOSE WHO FOUGHT AND DIED FOR THE
LIBERATION OF ZIMBABWE DID NOT DO SO IN VAIN. SECONDLY, ANY
CHANGE DESIGNED TO REVERSE THE GAINS OF THIS REVOLUTION WILL
NOT BE SUPPORTED.
¶14. AS WE CONCLUDE THIS PRESS BRIEF, WE WISH TO MAKE IT VERY
CLEAR TO ALL ZIMBABWEAN CITIZENS THAT THE SECURITY
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED PTQ2116
PAGE 01 HARARE 00107 03 OF 03 101512Z
ACTION AF-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 AMAD-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 INL-00
SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 EUR-00 OIGO-00 UTED-00 VC-00
H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01
DCP-01 NSAE-00 OIC-02 OMB-01 OPIC-01 CAEX-01 PA-00
PC-01 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SP-00 SSO-00
STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00
DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /011W
——————55E89B 101512Z /38
O 101406Z JAN 02
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0711
SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 HARARE 000107
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF AND AF/S
NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
E.O. 12958: N/A
SUBJECT: TRANSCRIPT OF THE JANUARY 9 PRESS BRIEF BY
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 HARARE 00107 03 OF 03 101512Z
ZIMBABWEAN SECURITY CHIEFS
ORGANIZATIONS WILL ONLY STAND IN SUPPORT OF THOSE POLITICAL
LEADERS THAT WILL PURSUE ZIMBABWEAN VALUES, TRADITIONS AND
BELIEFS FOR WHICH THOUSANDS OF LIVES WERE LOST, IN PURSUIT
OF ZIMBABWE’S HARD WON INDEPENDENCE, SOVEREIGNTY,
TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND NATIONAL INTERESTS. TO THIS END,
LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THE HIGHEST OFFICE ON THE LAND IS A
“STRAIGHT JACKET” WHOSE OCCUPANT IS EXPECTED TO OBSERVE THE
OBJECTIVES OF THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE. WE WILL THEREFORE
NOT ACCEPT, LET ALONE SUPPORT OR SALUTE ANYONE WITH A
DIFFERENT AGENDA THAT THREATENS THE VERY EXISTENCE OF OUR
SOVEREIGNTY, OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE.
¶15. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING AND WE DO HOP WE HAVE
MADE OUR POSITION VERY CLEAR TO OUR FELLOW CITIZENS.
END TEXT.
SULLIVAN
UNCLASSIFIED
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