Ethan Mathibela Placed on Security Watchlist Amid Political Tensions in Zimbabwe

Ethan Mathibela, chairman of ZNLWVA, is on a security watchlist as a backlash against his group’s opposition to President Mnangagwa and planned protests. State Security Minister Lovemore Matuke has warned against demonstrations, while police chief Mutamba claims he lacks authority to sanction them. A letter mandates that Mathibela be blocked from leaving the country at key border posts. Youths disrupted a press briefing, highlighting ongoing tensions.

Ethan Mathibela, the chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), has been placed on a security watchlist by the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), as disclosed in a leaked memo. His faction opposes President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term extension beyond 2028 and has initiated calls for nationwide protests to highlight economic issues and demand greater government accountability and reforms against corruption, tribalism, nepotism, and poor governance.

In the wake of these developments, State Security Minister Lovemore Matuke declared that any demonstrations opposing President Mnangagwa would face stringent responses. The CIO operates under Matuke’s ministry, which falls within the Office of the President’s jurisdiction. The police chief, Mutamba, has stated that he does not possess the authority to authorize protests, thereby dampening the prospects for the planned nationwide demonstrations.

The correspondence from the President’s department, which has reached immigration offices regionally, instructs that Mathibela must be prevented from leaving the country at designated border posts, specifically Plumtree, Maitengwe, or Mphoengs. Should he attempt to exit, immigration officials are directed to inform the President’s department immediately.

On Monday, a tumultuous incident occurred when unidentified youths interrupted Mathibela’s press conference at the Bulawayo Media Centre, further complicating the already tense atmosphere surrounding the war veterans’ movement.

In conclusion, the security watchlist placement of Ethan Mathibela exemplifies the Zimbabwean government’s sensitivity towards opposition movements advocating for significant political change. Despite the calls for protest by ZNLWVA, the government, under Minister Matuke, has signaled its readiness to suppress any dissenting actions. The escalation of tensions surrounding this issue underscores a critical moment in Zimbabwe’s political landscape.

Original Source: www.newzimbabwe.com