By Paul Nyathi|ZANU-PF Politburo member Perrance Shiri has said the party has no regrets over the recent military intervention in restoring peace following violence perpetrated by malcontents two weeks ago.
He said people should revert to constitutional ways of expressing their grievances and refrain from resorting to violence.
Addressing a crowd at the commissioning of Guruve Community Information Centre last Friday, Shiri said the army could not sit and watch the country burn after the police force was incapacitated.
“There are several ways to express our griviences,” he said.
“You can do so through Parliament, Government and peaceful protests. However, we will not tolerate acts of violence, looting and burning of property. This is not how Zimbabweans behave. We do not regret the intervention by the soldiers,” he said.
“If the police is incapacitated we will call the military to put out the fire. Did people want Harare to burn while soldiers watched? We appeal to youths to be disciplined and to appreciate the importance of peace, unity and love.”
Shiri is notorious for being the commander of the killer fifth brigade soldiers that came to be known as Gukurahundi in the early eighties.
Then known as “Black Jesus,” Shiri led the soldiers to kill over 20 000 people in the Matabeleland and Midlands province in a spate of three years of massive violence.
The region is still living in fear of Shiri who is now the Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Water.
His statement comes after the army killed twelve people in the one week of citizen protests over a 143% fuel price increase effected by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The Army also killed seven people in Harare on August 1 after riots emerged inn the capital following the delays in announcing presidential election results of the July 30 elections.
In the last few days, reports have been received of members of the army persecuting innocent citizens on a door to door follow up operation accusing them of having taken part in the protests that turned violent.
The world has heavily condemned the actions of the army and police calling on Mnangagwa to urgently address the issue.
The former Airforce of Zimbabwe commander further warned teachers who are contemplating going on a cripling strike to remain at work despite the very low salary government is paying them.
Source: State Media