(Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwe's military won't let the country be ruled by Nelson Chamisa, who leads the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Harare-based NewsDay reported, citing Deputy Finance Minister Terence Mukupe.
The generals who were behind the removal of Robert Mugabe as president in November wouldn't hand the country to Chamisa, 40, whom Mukupe described as a “child,” the newspaper reported. MDC spokeswoman Tabitha Khumalo said Mukupe's comments were a threat to democracy, it said.
The comments attributed to Mukupe “if true, are both reckless and most unfortunate as they do not represent the official position,” the Ministry of Information said in emailed statement. The reported comments “amount to direct contempt” of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, it said.
Zimbabweans will vote in parliamentary and presidential elections that must be held by Aug. 22 after Mnangagwa replaced Mugabe in November. Mnangagwa's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party has ruled the country since 1980.
To contact the reporter on this story: Brian Latham in Harare at blatham@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Hilton Shone at hshone@bloomberg.net, Mike Cohen
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