During a recent parliamentary session, concerns were raised about the well-being of Zimbabwe’s armed forces members, with claims that insufficient pay was pushing some of them to commit crimes. During a Q&A session, Ropafadzo Makumire, a Member of Parliament from the Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) representing Chiredzi South, brought up these issues and brought attention to the critical situation that certain members of the national military are in.
Makumire pointed out that there had been several instances where military personnel were reportedly involved in serious criminal activities, including money heists and armed robberies. His statement was met with caution from the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, who urged him to refrain from making generalizations without substantial evidence but instead to seek clarification on government policies addressing military welfare.
In response to the pointed inquiry about the government’s strategy to enhance the welfare of its military personnel, Defence Deputy Minister, Retired Brigadier-General Levi Mayihlome, addressed the Parliament. He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring the welfare of the military and other uniformed forces, acknowledging the unique challenges they face as they are not allowed to engage in additional employment to supplement their income.
Mayihlome stressed that the military’s welfare is a recurrent topic during budget discussions with the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion. He advocated for greater parliamentary support in allocating adequate resources to ensure that the military and other uniformed forces receive proper compensation and benefits.
“The welfare of our military personnel is a priority for the government, and it is imperative that as honorable members, we collaborate effectively during budget sessions to secure the necessary provisions for our defense forces,” Mayihlome stated. He reassured that it was neither the government’s intention nor its wish to neglect the uniformed forces.
The discussion highlighted a critical issue within Zimbabwe’s military structure — the challenge of ensuring decent living standards for service members who, unlike civilians, cannot engage in side businesses or other income-generating activities due to the nature of their duties. This situation has reportedly led to some members engaging in unlawful activities as a means to cope with financial strains.
