Army Announces End Of Operation Restore Legacy, ZRP To Resume Normal Duties, Soldiers To Return To Barracks
The Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Lieutenant General Phillip Valerio Sibanda announced the end of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’ Operation Restore Legacy at a press conference held on Monday. The press conference was held at the Josiah Magama Tongora Barracks, previously King George VI (KG VI) Barracks.
Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) General Constantino Chiwenge was unable to attend the press conference as he had another engagement to attend to. The press conference was attended by high ranking officers from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and Security Services who include Major General Douglas Nyikayaramba, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services boss, (retired) Major General Paradzai Zimondi and ZRP chief spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba.
Lieutenant General Sibanda announced that normalcy had returned to the country as Operation Restore Legacy had achieved its goals of removing the criminal elements that had surrounded former president Robert Mugabe. However, the general noted that some of the criminal elements are on the run.
The general also revealed that all security operations will now be handed over to the Zimbabwe Republic Police who will do their duties without any help from the Zimbabwe Defence Force.
All soldiers are now returning to the barracks. General Sibanda cautioned the ZRP to do its duties professionally.
The United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee had expressed its concern over the fact that the military was still on the streets. This came out when Tendai Biti of the MDC Alliance, Dewa Mavhinga of Human Rights Watch and writer Peter Godwin testified before the committee last week. The three called on the US government to push President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government for reforms.
