News Briefs

A WEEK after getting surprise salary increments, soldiers are now being served sumptuous meals daily, a departure from their daily diet of sadza and  beans, in what analysts say is an attempt to suppress dissent and court loyalty among soldiers ahead  of  the elections.

The Zimbabwean established from army insiders that soldiers are now fed bread, eggs, rice, and chicken. Soldiers last week had their salaries increased from $250 million a month to $1.3 billion, while other civil servants had their salaries increased to only $540 million.

Scores of junior army officers at the barracks told The Zimbabwean about the new meals. But Colonel Samuel Tsatsi, the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) spokesman just said: “We will always make sure that we give our officers good food.”

Political analyst, Max Mkandla who is also the president of the Zimbabwe Liberators Peace Initiative (ZLPI) said this is an attempt by the government to buy votes and loyalty among the soldiers.

Wrong side of the law

DESPITE efforts by the Mugabe regime to improve members of the uniformed forces’ remuneration, a number of policemen are still being caught on the wrong side of the law.

Two police officers were arraigned before the courts on charges of theft and bribery last week. Alfornce Marega (34) and Njaya Makotese (30) have not been formally formally charged with theft and bribery.

Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Sikhumbuzo Nyathi on Wednesday granted each of them $50 million bail and the intention was that their case be fast tracked.

The State case is that the pair was part of the group assigned to round up illegal foreign currency dealers in the city.

Teachers snub ZEC

SEVERAL teachers in Bulawayo have refused a request from Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to act as polling officers for the March 29 elections.

Last week ZEC said it would deploy over 100,000 polling officers, most of them recruited from the civil service – mainly teachers.

Several teachers told The Zimbabwean they would not do so, because they fear they will not get paid as ZEC is believed to be broke. It recently failed to pay many educators who were sent out to do voter education.

No comment could be obtained from ZEC spokesperson, Shupikai Mashereni. ZEC plans to set up11,000 polling stations countrywide and five polling stations per municipal ward, with 11polling officers in each station.

Dube blasts Mugabe

THE head of the Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI), Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube, says the country’s economy has suffered terribly because of ‘some people in government who are refusing to step down’.

Dube is standing as Zanu (PF) candidate for Makokoba constituency against MDC (Tsvangiarai)’s vice president, Thokozani Khuphe, and Welshman Ncube, the secretary general of the Arthur Mutambara led formation.

Addressing the Bulawayo press club on Friday, Dube said the government should take the blame for the unprecedented economic decline that last week pushed the country’s inflation to a new world record breaking rate of over 100 000 percent. “There are some people who have stayed long in government and are refusing to step down who are to blame for the economic crisis because of some of the ill planned policies.  Some people have stayed long in government and should take the blame for the crisis,” said Dube.

State agents prop Kunonga

ZIMBABWE’S secret service has provided controversial cleric and top government ally Nolbert Kunonga with manpower and other support in his bid to stop a caretaker bishop from taking control of the Harare Anglican church, police sources told ZimOnline.

They said the CIO had assigned agents to assist Kunonga, while a state-trained youth militia – known for victimising opposition supporters – was roped in to help him seize control of the church’s Cathedral of St Mary’s and All Saints headquarters.

“Kunonga is protected,” said a source, who spoke on condition he was not named. “This is why he has been ignoring court orders and using violence,” added our source.

He was referring to Kunonga’s refusal to allow Bakare and his followers to worship in the St Mary’s cathedral despite a High Court order that the two men’s followers be allowed to use the cathedral.

Kunonga’s followers, who have been accused of intimidating and beating up Bakare’s followers, two weeks ago, locked up the cathedral doors to prevent Bakare’s followers from entering. This was a violation of a court order but police details who were present did not intervene.  

Kunonga’s spokesman, Reverend Morris Gwedegwe, denied he was receiving support from the CIO, saying Kunonga did not need political backing or to use violence because he had the full support of the entire diocese.  

 

Police impose curfew

Police have imposed unofficial curfew in some parts of the country, illegally restricting movement of people in the evenings, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) said at the weekend.

ZimRights said the police forced people to stay indoors after dusk reportedly in order to stop them from using the night to campaign for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party as next months’ key elections loom closer.

The rights group cited the suburbs of Manyame Park, Zengeza and St Mary’s all in the opposition stronghold of Chitungwiza city where it said it had received the most reports of police imposing unofficial curfew, especially on youths.

“Some (police) officers operating within these areas are taking it upon themselves to impose unofficial curfew on the youths. Some concerned youths complain that some police details are harassing and ordering them to stay indoors after dusk, accusing the youths of organising opposition meetings as if it is a crime,” ZimRights said in a statement.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena was not immediately available for comment.