via Liquidity crisis affects defence budget | SW Radio Africa by Tichaona Sibanda on Tuesday, April 1, 2014
The liquidity crisis facing the government has adversely affected defence operations, including delays in paying members of the armed forces their salaries.
The economic downturn in the country has forced the government to cut defence spending, which has resulted in reports of soldiers struggling to make ends meet in military barracks.
Our correspondent Lionel Saungweme says it is an open secret that members of the armed forces are not happy with many things, ranging from erratic food supplies to shortages of new uniforms.
Last week there were several reports in the media suggesting that morale was at its lowest among the security services after the government postponed their pay date.
In 2008 President Robert Mugabe faced threats of unrest from the military at the height of the country’s economic crisis, when disgruntled soldiers rioted in Harare after becoming frustrated with queuing to withdraw cash from banks.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa has admitted the country’s economy is showing no sign of improvement after ZANU PF and Mugabe’s controversial ‘win’ in last years election.
Saungweme told us that as a result of the cash crisis army bosses have briefed their troops about the situation and this has seen soldiers bringing their own food to cook inside the camps.
‘The cash shortage has also seen a shortage in uniforms, camouflage such that when a soldier washes their clothes, they’ve to wait until the uniform is dry. This is because some soldiers steal the uniforms for resale. The suspects are senior soldiers who then sell the uniforms to juniors.
‘Some information I gathered, points to a situation where the army and the Zimbabwe Prison Service (ZPS) have not recruited this year in order to save the little cash in their coffers,’ Saungweme said.
COMMENTS
When they can no longer pay the police, can no longer pay or even feed the army everything wil collapse, be patient it won’t be much longer. l
I hope you’re right, Andy.
“The cash shortage has also seen a shortage in uniforms, camouflage such that when a soldier washes their clothes, they’ve to wait until the uniform is dry. This is because some soldiers steal the uniforms for resale. The suspects are senior soldiers who then sell the uniforms to juniors.”
Just about sums up the mentality of the so-called leaders?….
The killing of general Paul Gunda was meant to cowar all dissenting voices within the forces.That has worked so far. How long it will last no one knows.
Mugabe will have to kill a few more to enforce loyalty.
Pasi ne ZANU.
Treasonous malcontents.
They are used to rig elections and are dumped while the their bosses and the ministers get brand new cars. Wise up.
The army is of no use to the honest citizens of this country. The only job of the ZANU army is to oppress the people of this country. Every single soldier from the bottom to the top is a sellout. If the sell outs are suffering this is good. Let them suffer more.
agreed who cares if the army is not paid, they have been a weapon of mass destruction, disband them all and ask them to reapply for their jobs, same goes for the corrupt policeforce.
A rag tag army with nothing to eat and nothing to wear?? Ha ha ha
No Sympathy for the Army used for rigging elections and intimidating citizens. Let them FEEEEL!!! the pain we feeling.
God’s judgment is knocking at the door!
Wise up ZIMBOS.Disgruntled riotous servicemen vent their frustrations on guess who..??..You & me the soft targets!! Pray the system keeps their “beast”pacified or else woe to the civilians.
ZANU PF, this is what happens when you exist as an island in the middle of the ocean. Partisan politics does not pay. We are a people together as Zimbabweans. In Shona there is a saying “Chara chimwe hachitswanye inda.” ZANU PF and your party government, you are simply “chara chimwe” and now you are failing to do what is nationally right. As Zimbabwean nationals, we demand that our defense forces be well looked after. Failing to pay and provide for the army is a clear sign of a failed state. Please make room for constructive opposition and be part of Africa and and the wider world. The modern world is no longer round, it has become flat and so we see each other on a daily basis. Times are changing just as global warming is changing weather patterns. ZANU PF you have been overtaken by modern politics.