PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ruling Zanu-PF party yesterday said it would continue banking on the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) for political survival because the two are tied together by the liberation struggle.

Zanu-PF acting political commissar Patrick Chinamasa told journalists at a Press conference in Harare yesterday that the army was dutybound to protect the country’s sovereignty and that there was an unbreakable continuity between the ruling party and its military wings during the liberation struggle.

The liberation wings, Zanla and Zipra, Chinamasa said, remain at the heart of the ZNA.

“Always be mindful that there is this unbreakable continuity between the liberation struggle and Zanu-PF, between the armies of liberation Zipra and Zanla and the national army of independence,” he said.

“Any notion which seeks to break this bond should be rejected outright.”

The military played a major role in settling internal power struggles in Zanu-PF by leading a coup in November 2017, which led to the ouster of long-time ruler, the late former President Robert Mugabe and ushered in Mnangagwa’s rule.

The military, together with veterans of the liberation struggle, have also led repeated violent electoral campaigns on behalf of Zanu-PF.

Chinamasa said the composition of the ZNA leadership also told a story of the link between the ruling party and the military.

“It speaks for itself who are the commanders of the army, who is the CDF [Commander Defence Forces], Cde Valerio Sibanda. Who was he? He was a leading general in Zipra. Who is the commander of the national army, Cde edzayi Chimonyo? Who was he? He was a leading commander in Zanla. That culture of defending the sovereignty of this country will continue,” he said.

Chinamasa, who was flanked by former Zanu-PF political commissars Victor Matemadanda, Webster Shamu and engelbert Rugeje, was in a war mode, accusing non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of leading a regime change agenda.

-Newsday