Retired Colonel threatens civil war: Zimbabweans must choose between ballots and bullets
A director at Zanu PF’s Chitepo School of Ideology, Retired Colonel Resten Magumise, has sparked controversy by threatening war against Zimbabweans who advocate for the democratic removal of the ruling party. During a recent lecture attended by over 1,300 councillors participating in a Zanu PF indoctrination program, Magumise asserted that the ruling party could never be ousted through He urged attendees to exercise self-control when voting, emphasizing the sanctity of the land, which he claimed is sacred due to the blood that has been shed for it. He ominously suggested that there are unknown spirits in the forests and warned against selling the country, stating, “The country was brought by the barrel and the ballpoint will never change that.”
Magumise’s comments reflect a long-standing pattern of militaristic rhetoric from Zanu PF officials regarding elections. Zimbabwe has a history of contentious elections, often marred by violence and army involvement. This mirrors past statements from military leaders, such as the late General Vitalis Zvinavashe, who declared before the 2002 presidential election that the army would not accept an opposition victory. More recently, the current commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, Lieutenant-General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe, affirmed that the army would ensure Zanu PF remains in power.
Political analysts have condemned Magumise’s statements as a direct threat to the constitutional right to vote. Tendai Ruben Mbofana remarked that such rhetoric reveals Zanu PF’s power-hungry motives, suggesting that if the party had genuinely fought for democracy, it would accept the possibility of losing power through the ballot.
Ibbo Mandaza, a political analyst and convener of the Sapes Trust, echoed these sentiments, stating that Magumise’s remarks underscore the necessity of electoral reforms for Zimbabwe to have credible elections. He pointed out that the situation in Zimbabwe cannot remain stagnant, asserting that elections alone will not resolve the ongoing political crisis. Mandaza advocates for a political settlement facilitated by a national transitional authority composed of independent individuals, excluding established politicians, to ensure a fair and democratic political landscape in Zimbabwe.