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Zim soldiers given food rations
08/02/2007 18:48 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Zimbabwe is giving out food rations to junior police officers and soldiers to contain rising discontent over poor pay, Zimonline reported on Thursday.
It said the move came amid fears of revolt by disgruntled junior security officers.
Army commander Constantine Chiwenga and police commissioner Augustine Chihuri last year advised the government to hike salaries for security forces ten-fold to boost morale.
A soldier based at the Imbizo Barracks in Bulawayo confirmed to Zimonline on Wednesday that the government was giving them food rations to complement their salaries.
He said each junior officer received a 10kg bag of maize, two litres of cooking oil, a 1kg packet of fish and a 1kg bag of sugar beans.
Junior police officers would receive their food rations by mid-February following delays in compiling the names of beneficiaries.
Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi confirmed the handing out of food rations to soldiers.
"This is just one of the many efforts we are putting in to make sure that members of the security forces are well catered for," he said.
Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena said the move was meant to alleviate some of the suffering among junior police officers.
"The junior officers will receive the rations as a way of alleviating their financial problems. The government realises that the money they are getting is not enough."
- SAPA
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