MDC Alliance Says General Sibanda Must Publicly State That He Will Accept Election Results If ED Loses

The coalition MDC Alliance has called on the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) to publicly state that it will follow the Constitution and allow electoral results to stand in the event that President Emmerson Mnangagwa loses. This follows Foreign Affairs Minister, Lieutenant-General (retired) Sibusisio Busi Moyo’s pronouncement on Monday that Mnangagwa is prepared to step down for the good of the country if he loses the election.

While we appreciate that this statement represents progress from a functionary of Zanu PF and a former military strongman who was the face of the military coup which overthrew former President Robert Mugabe, that undertaking is not adequate.

What is required and would be enough is a statement from the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) General Valerio Sibanda made here in Zimbabwe and addressed to the citizens of Zimbabwe making an unequivocal and unconditional undertaking to the people that the military recognises and accepts the sovereignty of the people of Zimbabwe to freely choose their government and that once they have done so the armed forces will not only fully respect the decision of the people but will, in fact, defend and protect that decision.

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