Zimbabwe Independent
By Constantine Chimakure
14 March 2009
Harare — SECURITY service chiefs were this week conspicuous by their absence at the funeral of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s wife, Susan, heightening fears that they remain opposed to the premier and the inclusive government.
The absence of army, airforce, police or prisons bosses from the funeral attended by President Robert Mugabe, ministers, senior government officials, and diplomats, would intensify fears that the Joint Operations Command (JOC) — which had been running the country’s affairs from behind the scenes — was opposed to the unity deal and could become a stumbling block to progress.
JOC comprises Mugabe diehards from the army, intelligence, prisons and police who are reportedly opposed to Tsvangirai.Susan’s death touched the hearts of many but service chiefs appeared unmoved. She died in a car crash last Friday along the Harare-Masvingo highway. Tsvangirai sustained injuries.
Susan was buried on Wednesday at her husband’s rural home in Buhera.
Analysts said although Defence Forces commander Constantine Chiwenga, Air Force chief Perrence Shiri, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and Prisons Commissioner Paradzai Zimondi were not obliged to visit the grieving family, they were expected to attend the funeral of the prime minister’s wife out of courtesy as senior officers.
Only Happyton Bonyongwe, the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) boss, attended. He was seen running around at the Avenues Clinic last Friday after the accident.
Bonyongwe came with Mugabe and his wife Grace, Vice-President Joice Mujuru and central bank governor Gideon Gono, among government officials who came to see the prime minister at the clinic.
On Tuesday Mugabe, Vice-Presidents Mujuru and Joseph Msika, Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, co-Home Affairs ministers Kembo Mohadi and Giles Mutsekwa, Education minister David Coltart and others attended a church service in honour of Susan at Mabelreign Methodist Church in the capital.
“What is puzzling is that most people who matter in government were at the funeral except the service chiefs,” a source said.
“It is clear that they are maintaining their position that they have nothing to do with Tsvangirai.”
Chiwenga, Shiri, Chihuri and Zimondi reportedly indicated before last March’s harmonised elections that they would not salute Tsvangirai if he won the presidential election against Mugabe.
Recent media reports said Chiwenga told his subordinates that he had difficulty in saluting the Tsvangirai, but would not victimise those within the force if they did.
The generals were reportedly behind Zanu PF’s “military and war-like” presidential run-off election campaign which the MDC-T said resulted in the deaths of about 200 of its supporters, over 10 000 injured and thousands left homeless.
Tsvangirai withdrew from the run-off and Mugabe’s victory was not recognised in the region and internationally, prompting Sadc and the African to facilitate talks for a unity government.
Besides Bonyongwe, the service chiefs also did not attend the swearing in of Tsvangirai as prime minister by Mugabe on February 11.
Despite the service chiefs avoiding Tsvangirai, they would come face-to-face in the National Security Council (NSC) — a successor body to the Joint Operations Command that deals with national security matters.
The NSC is chaired by Mugabe and Tsvangirai is a member.
Tsvangirai has since said there was need for security forces reforms to transform them into professional state apparatus.
Efforts to get a comment from Defence Forces spokesperson Colonel Ben Ncube last night were in vain.