via Zimbabwe government splashes on police, military equipment December 13, 2013 By Owen Gagare Zimbabwe Independent
ZIMBABWE may be reeling from acute food shortages and a severe liquidity crunch as well as company closures and loss of thousands of jobs, but that is not deterring government from splashing on expensive police and military equipment to bolster its repressive arsenal.
Sources in the security sector told the Zimbabwe Independent this week government has of late been buying equipment for the security sector, which now plays a critical role in propping up President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF in power, which includes anti-riot gear and equipment, trucks and armored vehicles.
On Monday, government took delivery of vehicles worth millions of dollars. Accompanied by military police, blue-light flashing police escort cars with sirens wailing and out-riders clearing traffic, a convoy of about 30 cars passed through Harare around 7pm on Monday.
The equipment and vehicles were parked by the roadside, about 200 metres from the tollgate along the Harare-Masvingo Road until it was dark. Under the cover of darkness, the convoy rolled towards the capital city before turning into Mbare through Remembrance Drive next to the ZBC’s Mbare Studios.
It then turned into Cripps Road and then into Glenara road before turning into Enterprise. It could not be established where the vehicles and equipment were going but the convoy drove past Arcadia, Braeside, Hillside, Eastlea and Highlands through Enterprise road towards Mutoko, indicating it might have been headed for 2.2 Infantry Battalion in Mudzi.
As the convoy rumbled through, police ordered civilian vehicles to keep a distance of at least 100m away from the rear escort vehicle.
Zimbabwe Defence Forces spokesperson Colonel Overson Mugwisi declined to comment, saying he was on leave while his Zimbabwe National Army counterpart Colonel Alphios Makotore referred questions to the police.
“The police were there, isn’t it? Speak to them,” he said.
However, police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said he was not aware of the acquisitions. Government has spent millions on luxury cars after the July 31 general elections.
COMMENTS
In our living memory no government has succeeded like this onr well done good leaders.
I hope you are being sarcastic, but no indication!
The journalist never sought comment from the ZDF and went on to publish this hollow story.
He thinks the consignment headed for 2.2 Infantry Battalion in Mudzi. Newly acquired equipment going straight to end-user (2.2 Inf Btln)without going through ZDF Headquarters in Harare?
For the record, Zimbabwe is a transit point of most northern SADC countries for importation of arms. ZDF military police and ZRP are required to escort such consignment as it passes through the country. Eg from Durban to Malawi, Zambia and DRC.
Maybe going to mozambique to join the new adventure against renamo
Preposterous!! Typical ZANU PF.
Typical MDC thinking. Always wishing the worst for own people.
You cray man
Pple are surffering with hunger why they cln’t import food help us from food shortage as they promise be4 elections. Nw they ignore us buying luxury cars 4 millitery and police that is not gud.