The UAE ruler Ras al Khaimah, who was in the country last week on an official visit, met with top defence officials, who have made no secret of the fact that they are avowed supporters of President Robert Mugabe and Zanu (PF).
Senior defence officers would be bought top-of-the-range vehicles with the funding, said the source.
Like Zimbabwe the UAE is a former colony of Britain and was granted independence in 1968. It is a federation of seven emirates, each governed by a hereditary ruler.
“Ras al Khaimah came into the country under the guise of exploring business opportunities for the United Emirates, but in fact wanted to see how best to help Mugabe and Zanu (PF) win elections,” alleged the source. “He was told it would be difficult for the party to win in a free and fair election without interference of the army.”
MDC-T Secretary for Defence Giles Mutsekwa said his party had received similar reports. “Judging by the momentum with which the allegations are circulating, there could be some element of truth about the UAE pledge to fund the Zimbabwe Defence Forces,” he said.
If the UAE leader was on a state visit he should have been received by the three leaders in the GNU, but that did not happen.
“MDC condemns the reported offered aid in the strongest terms as it is not in the interest of the government and the people of Zimbabwe,” Mutsekwa told The Zimbabwean.
The army has been accused over the years of using heavy-handed means to suppress dissent to Mugabe’s rule. China is reported to be clandestinely supporting Mugabe through technical, financial and military hardware supplies.
In 2011 China shipped in consignments of military small arms and equipment via an unidentified African intermediary to beat the radar of western governments, which had imposed an arms embargo in the face of human rights violations by the government.
Minister of Defence Emmerson Mnangagwa was not reachable and defence forces spokespersons did not respond to numerous calls on their mobile telephones.
Post published in: News