By A Correspondent| Zimbabwe’s Defence Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has confirmed a military operation that seeks to attack members of the public the ZANU PF regime perceives to be behind a coup plot.
The development comes after a leaked military document showed that the entire Joint Operations Command was deployed at the beginning of June 2019. It also comes just as 36 military lorries were spotted descending into the Midlands province.
36 military trucks have descended past Mvuma, and are now driving towards Gweru. Final destination unknown.
— ZimEye (@ZimEye) June 18, 2019
In other parts of Midlands, soldiers are roaming the streets.
Why have you deployed the army when there is no war@InfoMinZW @edmnangagwa ? @ZLHRLawyers @euinzim
Muchinguri was quoted by the state media at the weekend saying the military was prepared to face, head on, any threats to national security and stability.
Muchinguri said, “the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) posture on national defence and security is defensive in nature hence the organisation trains to meet both internal and external security threats.
“As the security situation evolves, the ZDF trains to ensure that they are ready to deal with any emerging threats.”
In an interview with ZimEye.com on the 3rd June, the police spokesman Paul Nyathi disowned the state-security document while however declaring more than the ear can hear.
The internal ZRP memo dated the 31st May, reveals that Emmerson Mnangagwa has deployed the military to use LIVE ammunition from the 3rd June 2019. The opening paragraph blames the alleged “looming coup” on the MDC Alliance party.ED Deploys Military – the below is an excerpt of the briefing pic.twitter.com/K4pxDAlIWc
— Simba Chikanza (@schikanza) June 3, 2019
Although a comment from State House was fruitless, in Zimbabwe only the President can deploy the military. The document is addressed to all wings of the Joint Operations Command.