via Mugabe defends uniformed forces’ business ventures – NewsDay Zimbabwe 13 August 2014
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe yesterday defended security forces’ involvement in joint commercial business ventures with local and foreign partners, saying the move was meant to boost the country’s country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Addressing security forces during commemorations to mark the 34th Defence Forces Day at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, Mugabe said government fully supported the business ventures initiated by members of the security sector.
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) has of late been investing in agriculture, mining and education mainly in partnership with Chinese companies.
“Operation Maguta, a project which started in 2000, has since been expanded to greater levels, producing substantial amounts of maize, and wheat in a joint venture project with the Chinese at Hunyani Estate in Chinhoyi,” Mugabe said.
He added: “The Zimbabwe Defence Forces is contributing to the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation through this and several other commercial projects that will, in the medium to long term, contribute significantly to the country’s GDP.”
The military has a significant stake in the Marange diamond fields.
Civil society groups and the opposition have often raised concern over the involvement of the ZDF in diamond mining activities, saying they were being used as conduits for looting and smuggling of mineral proceeds.
Meanwhile, Mugabe also said Zimbabwe’s defence forces continues to play a leading role in co-ordinating regional security matters.
“In June 2014, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces successfully co-hosted a riverine exercise codenamed Exercise Nyami-Nyami with Botswana and Zambia defence forces. The aim of the exercise was to test the inter-operability of regional Special Forces in water bodies like Lake Kariba,” he said.
Zimbabwe will next year participate in two other regional exercises in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Lesotho.
Exercise Amani Africa 11 will bring together forces from five African regions and Zimbabwe Defence Forces will provide the Force Commander for the exercise.”
COMMENTS
That’s partly why his mugabeland has been a basket case laughing stock for years. We don’t even need an army. Who would invade ? The top brass will face courts martial with probable fibrin squads as treason is punishable with death !!!! Shiver Mary Jocelyn chiwengwa chiwhorie shiri etc
This entrenchment of the army in business ventures is nothing but a ploy by Mugabe to protect himself. Mugabe knows that the only reason he is still in power today is because he still controls the army like its his own personal security force. He knows that the only way to keep the top brass under his wings during this time of increasing poverty is to award them posts & control over the lucrative industries in our country. He knows with the way his gvt is broke, he can no longer afford to keep dishing out money to them. So he is resorting to this last move. Who can deny that ours is now a militarised country & the trend will continue long after he is gone. See, Mugabe doesnt care about the repurcussions of this state of affairs on the country as a whole. His only concern is staying in power, a feat which he will pursue at whatever cost. So please Mr. President stop with this nonsense of supporting the army’s venturing into business. We are not blind or stupid. We all know what u are upto.
And the commander in chief and a few selected securocrats are the prime beneficiaries
and they have been so successful at increasing GDP! Getting Diamonds into my Pockets.
They never seem to understand why the defence forces should not be in business and should be impartial.
Kafka!
And – government has no business in business