HIGHER Education minister Jonathan Moyo yesterday hit back at the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Constantino Chiwenga, for threatening him over his stance on the command agriculture programme.
Chiwenga on Monday threatened unspecified action against Moyo, labelling the minister “an enemy of the State” for his criticism of command agriculture, which is being spearheaded by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Chiwenga accused Moyo of trying to destroy Zanu-PF from within, but the minister took to Twitter yesterday posting a cryptic message that many thought was directed at the army boss.
“Kuvhunduka chati kwatara hunge une katurikwa,” Moyo posted in Shona, which, loosely translated, means a person panics if he has something to hide.
Moyo did not respond to messages sent to him by NewsDay seeking his comment over Chiwenga’s threats.
The military is involved in command agriculture, which Moyo has dismissed as “command ugly culture”.
Zanu-PF spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo last night refused to comment on Chiwenga and Moyo’s public spat, preferring to say it was not a Zanu-PF issue.
“It is not a party matter, I cannot comment further,” he said.
Opposition parties and ordinary citizens warned that the country was in danger of descending into civil strife in the wake of the public threat against Moyo.
MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu said factional fights in Zanu-PF posed a threat to national security.
“The situation has dangerously deteriorated and, as we have stated before, the factional fights within Zanu-PF are now a major threat to State security. If this situation is not handled carefully, it can actually erupt into a deadly civil war,” he said.
The People’s Democratic Party said it was irked by Chiwenga’s incessant interference in civilian processes instead of focusing on the core business of the defence forces as outlined in section 212 of the Constitution.