Highly placed inside sources told The Zimbabwean this week that the instruction, which originated from Defence Forces Headquarters in Harare, was issued last Thursday from the office of the commanding officer, defence forces complex, Lieutenant Colonel Murecherwa.
“The motive behind the forced registration of all army personnel is to have every serving soldier on the voters’ roll. In the past those suspected of supporting the MDC have been forced to swear illiteracy and senior pro- Zanu (PF) officers would cast the ballot on their behalf,” said the reliable source.
Soldiers’ wives, children and other dependents of voting age have been urged to reside at army establishments during the election and cast their vote at the cantonments.
Careful preparations to ensure a Zanu (PF) election victory have been reported at other armed forces establishments such police and prison services.
A police source told this newspaper that massive recruitment was underway in the police, army and prison services in defiance of the Public Service Commission freeze on government posts.
“The police have a target to recruit at least 50,000 people before the elections. Police officers plus their wives, children and dependents of voting age would add some 500,000 Zanu (PF) votes. The army and the Prison Services are also doing their sums – which would give Zanu (PF) close to a million votes before the elections have even started,” said the high ranking police source.
He added that last year, when President Robert Mugabe suggested elections be held March 2013, the police conscripted all casual workers into the force.
The police have also been accused of buying the loyalty of high-ranking cops through issuing luxury vehicles. Chief Superintendents were issued with latest 4X4 Ford Ranger pickups, assistant commissioners got Toyota Navaras while senior assistant commissioners had the privilege of choosing between a latest model BMW or a Navara.
When reached for comment last Sunday army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore, said: “Give me your question over the phone so that I can prepare a written response.” He later said the army only entertains questions submitted at his office in hard copy form not via the internet.
In the past, the armed forces have been accused of rigging elections partly through the postal vote. But MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said this time around there would be close observation of the military vote and no postal vote for people working and based inside the country.
“To avoid rigging of the election through army and police postal vote, there will be more vigilance over postal voting by the armed forces,” said Mwonzora. He urged all Zimbabweans to be vigilant and help tame the cancer of rigging. “This is the reason why MDC is insisting that there must be a change of ZEC secretariat. The secretariat was appointed by a single political party and naturally would be forced to be partisan.” He said a single rigged vote will make a difference.
Post published in: News