The New Patriotic Front, a new political party reportedly led by former cabinet ministers, Patrick Zhuwawo, Savior Kasukuwere and Jonathan Moyo, has called on the Africa Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to denounce President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
In a petition letter addressed to both bodies, the NPF said the AU and SADC should urgently institute an investigation into the Mnangagwa administration as they accuse it of seizing power through unconstitutional means.
The NPF said there must be a process for the country to return to constitutionalism.
“AU and SADC should urgently institute an investigation of the said extraordinary situation to establish a Transitional Authority to oversee and superintend a process for the return of constitutional order under civilian rule, legitimacy and normalcy in Zimbabwe and prepare and institute the necessary conditions for the holding of free, fair and credible elections as constitutional due.
“We are aware that there are media statements that have been attributed to some officials of the AU, and even some SADC heads of state to the effect that there was no coup in Zimbabwe or alternatively that if there was a bloodless and harmless military intervention.
“There is overwhelming direct and indirect evidence that the intervention was a bloody coup that grossly violated the Constitution of Zimbabwe and set a dangerous precedent in SADC and AU with far-reaching geographical implications for stability under the guise of targeting criminals around President Mugabe.
” The real target was President Mugabe himself and the government for the benefit of a military and political cabal that has been at forefront of instigating and unspeakable atrocities,”reads the petition.
The NPF added that there were some military officers and senior civil servants who violated the constitution during the period.
“We wish to put on record that there was a military coup in Zimbabwe on 15 November 2017 conducted by some military officers who call themselves the Command Element who have put themselves above the constitution of Zimbabwe.
“They claimed to be so under inapplicable Section 212 of that Constitution, acted in common purpose with four senior civil servants who corruptly and criminally abused their constitutional duty as public officials.
“There was without any doubt a military coup in Zimbabwe on 15 November 2017, during which the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Defence Forces as led by General Chiwenga deployed its troops nationwide and placed the country under siege occupying key state institutions.
Zimbabweans Marched on 18 November 2017 calling for the resignation of former President Robert Mugabe.
“The institutions include public broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Services blocked access to the State House and Munhumutapa Building which houses the Offices of the President of the Republic and carried out military assaults at the homes of targeted government ministers,” they said.
“The prime movers and key operatives of the coup were convened at KGVI Army Barracks by General Chiwenga on the morning of 15 November 2017 and they included the Command Element which was largely made up of the ZDFhierarchyy led by General Chiwenga.
“Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr. Misheck Sibanda, Chairman of the Civil Service Commission Dr. Mariyawanda Nzuwah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Joey Bimha.
“Secretary for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services and Presidential Spokesperson Mr. George Charamba,” said NPF.
Mnangagwa was sworn in as Zimbabwe’s president on 24 November after a seizing power from Robert Mugabe in a move that has been described as a soft coup.
