The chief of Zimbabwe’s airforce on Tuesday claimed he was offered money by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to pacify generals and members of the army in the event of an opposition presidential victory last year.
Air Marshal Perence Shiri was testifying in the ongoing treason trial of Morgan Tsvangirai, head of the MDC, and two senior party officials charged with trying to eliminate President Robert Mugabe ahead of last year’s presidential poll, which Mugabe won.
The charges, which they deny, hinge on a videotape of a meeting Tsvangirai held with Canada-based political consultant, Ari Ben Menashe, during which the MDC leader allegedly requested Mugabe’s ”elimination” ahead of the 2002 poll.
Shiri’s name is mentioned on that tape.
According to a transcript of the tape, Tsvangirai told the meeting that his shadow minister of defence had met with Zimbabwe’s defence minister as well as Shiri and the Zimbabwe army chief, Constantine Chiwenga ”to smooth the relationship and lay down our views, that the army has to remain professional”.
Shiri denied that any such meeting took place, but did say he was approached by two opposition lawmakers in January 2002, after they requested a meeting with him.
Speaking in the local Shona language through a translator, Shiri claimed he had two meetings with the MDC lawmakers.
At the second meeting he said Tsvangirai sent his party’s deputy secretary general Welshman Ncube to explain the MDC’s policies to him.
He also said one of the MDC officials present at the meeting, lawmaker Job Sikhala, offered him 10-million Zimbabwe dollars to win over the country’s army generals and the rank and file of the armed forces to an MDC government if it won the election.
He said that Sikhala told him that the MDC leader wanted Shiri to be the commander of the armed forces and to play ”a pacifying role to war veterans and the armed forces”, assuming Tsvangirai won the poll.
Veterans of the country’s 1970s liberation war against white minority rule are amongst Mugabe’s most loyal supporters.
”Sikhala pointed out that if I were agreeable to work with the MDC… the MDC would pay me 10-million Zimbabwe dollars ($12 000),” Shiri told the court.
He said he refused the offer.
Like the 79-year-old Mugabe, Shiri is a veteran of the country’s 1970s liberation war against white minority rule.
A few months ahead of last year’s presidential poll, the air marshal was among five of the country’s armed forces chiefs who issued a statement suggesting they would never accept a leader who did not possess liberation war credentials.
However, in his testimony Shiri denied having a part in that statement, which he said was authored by his superior, the commander of the armed forces, General Vitalis Zvinavashe.
Under cross examination by defence lawyer Eric Matinenga, Shiri also denied that the statement was intended to discourage non-war veterans from becoming president.
Tsvangirai did not fight in the liberation war.
The MDC has denied it requested the meeting with Shiri. The opposition party claims the meeting was held at his behest. It also denies offering money to Shiri.
Shiri, who has been commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe since 1992, is the eighth witness to testify in the marathon trial, which started in February. – Sapa-AFP