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[Published: Tuesday June 16 2009]

Zimbabwe Soldiers say Inclusive Government Easing Tension

Harare, 16 June-(ANA)-Lower-ranking police officers and army troops in Zimbabwe say they are better off under the country's new inclusive government. 

 

But they quietly say they fear there is too much political involvement in the security services.

Zimbabwe's army has about 30,000 soldiers who earn $100 a month.  It was reported that lower ranking soldiers carried out most of the beatings of Movement for Democratic Change supporters during last year's elections.

A private with four years service said he beat MDC supporters because senior officers loyal to President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF, forced him to.  The soldier, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals, said he is relieved an inclusive government is now in place, because those pressures are now gone.

He is critical of top officers in the Zimbabwe National Army, who he says are unprofessional because they openly support Zanu PF, the former ruling party.

Zimbabwe's top generals have refused to salute Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who won more votes in the March 2008 election than President Robert Mugabe.

"As a soldier, I am not happy with the attitude of our bosses [with] Morgan Tsvangirai and the inclusive government, because when they say they will not support anyone who is not Zanu PF, then it means the army is any extension of the party," he said.

An off-duty policeman, who also asked not to be named, said a senior group in the Zimbabwe Republic Police loyal to Mr. Mugabe does not recognize Mr. Tsvangirai.  He said top policemen had made what he described as "enormous fortunes" during the past few years of Zanu PF rule.

He also said the force of about 20,000 is no longer professional.  He said many untrained Zanu PF youth militia were recruited into the force since last year's elections, lowering the standards in the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

He said many police spend days harassing motorists at road blocks to extract bribes to boost their salaries instead of enforcing law and order.

"As for me, I am not actually happy that $100 dollars is very little for me to survive for a month long . You need about $500 to survive for a month in Zimbabwe.


A former member of the army, now a businessman said people are no longer scared of the security forces, even though he did not want his name mentioned.

"Considering how they were behaving before the inclusive government and how they are behaving now there is a major difference.  They are no longer harassing people in bars," he said.

On reports that the United States may assist with salaries for Zimbabwe's teachers and health workers, but not members of the security forces, lower-ranking officers in the police and army said the United States was making a mistake.


A soldier in central Harare, who did not want to be identified, says if any difference in salaries is made between the security forces and other civil servants there could be consequences.

"It may destabilize the country, because we may be viewed as people belonging to the party instead of being viewed as professional," the soldier said.(ANA)

FA/ANA/16 June 2009---

 



 


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