'Leave politics to the politicians'

10 August 2011 - 10:43
By Sapa-AP
COMMITTED: Morgan Tsvangirai with Robert Mugabe  PHOTO: AFP
COMMITTED: Morgan Tsvangirai with Robert Mugabe PHOTO: AFP

ZIMBABWE'S prime minister says the military's role is to defend the people - and not attack and brutalise them in politically motivated violence

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said soldiers had been deployed in villages "to attack innocent civilians" seen as supporting his former opposition in the nation's shaky coalition.

In a message on the eve of a two-day public holiday to markthe guerrilla war that led to independence in 1980, he urged the military to "leave politics to the politicians".

Military commanders loyal to President Robert Mugabe have accused the minister of being a security threat because of pro-Western links.