The Zimbabwe Defense Forces through its spokesperson Colonel Overson Mugwisi said it did not deploy soldiers to Harvest House last Friday to help the Khupe led faction take over the MDC Alliance headquarters. The Herald reports, Mugwisi went on to insinuate that the soldiers that were present as seen in videos that circulated on social media during the takeover were helping ZRP enforce lockdown restrictions.
Speaking to the publication, Mugwisi said:
Allegations by the private media that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), accompanied by some youths, seized Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House (MRT House), formerly Harvest House on 5 June 2020, are not true. The ZDF never deployed at MRT House. Current ZDF deployments are in support of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) operations of enforcing Covid-19 lockdown measures,
It is the work of political mischief makers to present online media footage of the ZRP in uniform conducting their duties as the ZDF. ZDF uniform is distinct. All the misinformation is trying to divert public attention from challenges facing their political parties. They should leave us out of their politics.
This came after there was public outcry over the takeover of private offices by an opposition party assisted by the army and the police as reported in some publications and as evidenced in social media footage and photos.
More: The Herald