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Zimbabwean Military Commander Dismisses Coup Plot Reports
Commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF) General Vitalis Zvinavashe has dismissed British press reports that some senior military officers were planning to topple President Robert Mugabe, The Herald newspaper reported on Thursday.
Zvinavashe told The Herald in an interview on Wednesday that the report was coming from Zimbabwe's enemies whose machinations to destroy the country had failed.
"It's not true because that type of thing is not being expected in this country. I as the commander would have known about the coup. It is not true," he said.
The commander said the coup reports were misleading and an attempt to divide the defense forces chiefs.
"Those said to be the coup leaders are under my command and have no such plans," he said in reference to the reports, which alleged Commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe Air Marshal Prerence Shiri was the leader of the coup.
Zvinavashe said there was unity in the defense forces and there were no senior officers within the ZDF who were contemplating overthrowing the government.
"There is only one commander in the Zimbabwe Defense Forces. I am the commander. The army commander and the Air Force Commander fall under me," he said.
"What is being mentioned about them is not right. There is nothing that is going to happen that way. We are one, we are going to remain united. We know what we are there for our responsibility is to defend this country," the general stressed.
In a "special report" on Tuesday, the British Guardian newspaper said some senior military officers had secretly told the South African government that they were planning a coup against President Mugabe if a "growing political and economic crisis" resulted in riots.
The British paper alleged that Air Marshal Shiri would lead the coup but said Pretoria had strongly advised against the move to remove Mugabe by force although it had been made aware of the circumstances in which it may be attempted.
It alleged the army commanders believed the "looming failure of the maize crop this year will create a food crisis and prove a critical flashpoint".
South African President Thabo Mbeki also dismissed the reports during a question and answer session in Parliament on Wednesday, saying "The South African government has no information about a coup taking place in Zimbabwe."
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