Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Reads Riot Act

Gilbert Munetsi

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe says government is aware of attempts to disrupt the smooth flow of the 44th SADC summit that Zimbabwe is hosting on August 17 and has put in place relevant security mechanisms to combat them.

He was speaking at a press conference in Harare Thursday that was attended by police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga and several other high ranking police officers.

"The security cluster is aware of the secret meetings being held locally and outside the country by those seeking to unleash civil disobedience.

" We already know the personalities and institutions that they front. We are also aware of those giving them logistical and financial support. We have also established their modus operandi which includes hiring taxis to ferry demonstrators," he said.

His remarks come on the back of speculation that the Brendhurst Foundation and USAID collaboratively availed funds to members of the opposition in Zimbabwe aimed at causing disruption to the forthcoming regional convergence of Heads of State.

Three members from the civil society were late last week arrested at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and have since been detained on allegations of plotting gatherings to do with destabilisation.

Said Kazembe:

"The security sector has a duty to protect national interest in its diverse forms. It is our role to protect the massive infrastructural outlay that the Second Republic has invested in within the shortest period in power. Any attempts at sabotaging the visible developments would be confronted head-on.

"Equally, the security sector remains committed to ensure that the general citizenry continues with their economic and social activities without interruption."

Kazembe said the acts by destabilisers of the SADC convergence were a familiar script that dates back to many international events.

"It has historical footprints. We have always witnessed the penchant to mobilise for demonstrations around regional and international events.

"This SADC Summit was, therefore, not going to be an exception. It is clear that the organisers seek to provoke a heavy-handed response from Government which they assume would attract global attention and put Zimbabwe on the spotlight. We have been through such episodes before and are prepared for same."

The Minister blasted "misguided political activists" who aspire to forment unrest, warning them:

"Allow.me to sound a candid and stern warning....let me categorically disabuse those nursing a misguided perception that the presence of the international community in the country presents them an opportunity to inflict reputational damage on the country without consequence.

"Freedom of expression, while espoused in Section 86 (1) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, does not and cannot mean the right to remove a democratically elected Government from office and to replace it with people or a party elected by nobody. Historically, the opposition has never held any peaceful demonstrations. "

The Home Affairs Minister's warning comes at a time when some delegates to the summit are already in the country with President Emmerson Mnangagwa having on Wednesday officially opened the 7th SADC Industrial Week.

At this year's edition of the the regional gathering, Zimbabwe will assume the position of Chair.