ZIMBABWE
President Robert Mugabe's regime has just taken another step towards militarisation, with the creation of the Zimbabwe National Security Council.
The militarisation of Zimbabwe’s institutions has just taken another step forward with the recent creation of the Zimbabwe National Security Council (ZNSC). This is chaired by Robert Mugabe and is in charge of supervising the operation of certain ministries and government agencies. Thus it was that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) was placed under the direct control of General Constantine Chiwenga and other strategic institutions will soon be in a similar position.
The commissioner-general of ZIMRA, Gershom Pasi has been informed that he will henceforth have to work under the supervision of General Chiwenga. Some members of the government of Harare are concerned that the military will now come and directly supervise their ministries. Particularly since Mugabe recently stated that he considered the majority of his ministers to be incompetent, even if he did not consider this was the right time to sack them. However, some representatives of the Central intelligence Organisation (CIO) and the Zimbabwe National Army (‘ZNBA) should soon begin to make their presence felt as advisors in several ministries.
These measures will tweak the militarisation process of the Zimbabwean regime. It has already made substantial progress in many government departments and agencies which are now headed by high ranking officers, either active or retired.
Indian Ocean Letter - 21.04.2006
