By 
Shumirai Nyamadzawo
Zimbabwe Defense Forces [ZDF] morale is at its lowest ebb due to a lack of funding, which has pushed some members to engage in corrupt activities.
Defense Deputy Minister Levi Mayihlome said lack of funding was affecting the conditions of services and maintenance of equipment.
“The ministry is receiving inadequate budget allocations leading to several challenges in the ZDF and the ministry. Training of the soldiers cannot be done in pieces. It must be a complete cycle. Every year we plan to train but because of inadequate funding, we end up abandoning the process.
“We don’t want to have an army with low morale because of low salaries, transport, and fuel”, he said.
He pleaded with the treasury to fund the ministry and improve the living conditions of the defence forces.
Two soldiers and a District Development Fund driver were recently sentenced to 15 months in prison by Joshua Nembaware from Concession for stealing from the First Family.
The soldiers told the court that they had stolen the equipment because they wanted to raise money for their children’s school fees.
Mayihlome said, “Soldiers need accommodation, and one of the recommendations that we are making is let’s revive the mortgage scheme for housing”
The Citizens Coalition for Change in its solidarity message during Defense Forces Day in August noted that there was a need to improve the conditions of service of the rank-and-file soldiers.
The ZDF deserves better conditions of services befitting the important constitutional role they are mandated to play in our society. The deteriorating living standards and poor working conditions create problems for President who initially came to power through a military coup in 2017.
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