By Nqobani Ndlovu BULAWAYO — The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) last week embarked on another recruitment exercise, defying Finance minister Tendai Biti’s recent freeze on new appointments in the public sector due to a severe cash squeeze. Biti recently extended a freeze on public sector recruitments, stating that “the employment costs have become an elephant in the living room when viewed against overall expenditures”.
Last month, Biti condemned as unlawful the recruitments of soldiers and police officers in light of the government adding that the Treasury was not in a position to pay the recruits.
The ZNA and Home Affairs ministry have so far recruited 4 600 soldiers and 1 600 police officers since May this year.
ZNA spokesperson, Major Alphios Makotore, confirmed that the army had embarked on another recruitment exercise countrywide.
“Yes, we are recruiting. It’s a national exercise,” Makotore said.
He refused to take further questions on how many soldiers were being recruited, referring the reporter to One Brigade barracks on the outskirts of Bulawayo for more details.
A few weeks ago, Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa requested for an additional US$2,5 million to bankroll salaries of the new recruits, which was turned down by Biti.
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The ZNA recently scrapped minimum educational qualifications for aspiring soldiers to attract as many recruits as possible.
There is widespread fear that the soldiers would be used to prop up Zanu PF during the coming elections expected next year.
Rodrick Fayayo, the coordinator of the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) said the recruitment was not good for the struggling economy.
“It is tragic for a small country like Zimbabwe to be spending a large share of the budget on wages when the majority of citizens are toiling without food and other essential services,” Fayayo said.
He added: “This mass recruitment exercise raises questions on whether there is a grand plan to have military officers in all the country’s provinces for the upcoming election.”
The MDC claims that more than 200 of its supporters died during the 2008 violent election. It claimed that the violent campaign was spearheaded by Zanu PF militia, police army and members of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).
