ZEC Chairman and JOC members promoted
President Robert Mugabe today promoted the Zimbabwe Electoral (ZEC) Commission Chairman and two members of the Joint Operation Command.
Mugabe, who addressed the country’s military at a ceremony at a sports stadium in Harare to mark Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day (ZDF), also publicly thanked his strongest international ally, China, for its continued support to the armed forces.
“We remain grateful to the People’s Republic of China for facilitating the procurement of military clothing material which has improved the uniforms of officers in the ZDF,” he said.
Addressing the same gathering, Defence Minister Sen.Sydney Sekeramayi announced that Mugabe had promoted Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairman George Chiweshe from to the rank of major general (retired).
Chiweshe, a trained lawyer, was a former brigadier general in the army but retired from the military to join the High Court as a judge.
He left the bench when he was appointed head of the ZEC that runs elections in the country. The ZEC was accused of tampering with figures in the March 29 presidential election to deny Tsvangirai an outright victory over Mugabe, paving the way for a second round run-off election won by Mugabe on June 27.
Sekeramayi said also promoted to the rank of major general were retired brigadier generals Happyton Bonyongwe and Paradzai Zimondi both members of the joint Operations Command.
Bonyongwe heads the government’s spy Central Intelligence Organisation that is accused of kidnapping, torturing and killing MDC activists during the run-up to the June run-off election.
Zimondi heads the country’s prison service and is infamous for declaring ahead of the March elections that he would not salute Tsvangirai if the MDC leader defeated Mugabe.
Also promoted to major general was Engelbert Rugeje, a serving member of the army who masterminded violence against the MDC in the southern Masvingo province ahead of the June vote.
The timing of the promotions is likely to heighten tensions during the next round of talks later this afternoon.
Additional reporting by ZimOnline
Posted by Wellington Chadehumbe
on August 12, 2008. Filed under Local News.
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