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Army chief pledges loyalty to Mugabe
Qhubani Moyo, OhMyNews
March 07, 2008

http://www.congoo.com/news/addstorycomment.aspx?st=38087093&Channel_ID=65&Category_ID=261

Harare - Zimbabwe's army commander, General Constantine Chiwenga has pledged the army's' undying loyalty to President Robert Mugabe even if he loses the March 29 presidential elections, dismissing other presidential aspirants as 'sellouts' out to reverse the gains of independence.

Chiwenga, in chilling comments ahead of the harmonized elections, said the army would not recognize a government led by President Mugabe's challengers -- opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai and Mugabe's former ally, Simba Makoni -- should they win the presidential elections because they were agents of the West.

Chiwenga's comments come on the back of indications that hundreds of soldiers have been deployed into the rural areas, the ruling Zanu PF party stronghold, ahead of the elections in an apparent effort to coerce the rural population to vote for him and his party candidates.

Army officers in the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) told OhmyNews that the soldiers were instructed to take gratuitous leave and go to their rural homes in order to assist in campaigning for the ruling Zanu PF party.

Soldiers have played a decisive role in ensuring Mugabe wins the vote in the past two elections through establishing "bases" in rural areas where they have led party militia as coercing agents to intimidate and harass the rural electorate.

"Those deployed were reminded that the hefty salary increments they were paid last month were part of the deal to campaign for the President," said one army officer based at One Commando Barracks in Harare.

The government last month unexpectedly increased soldier's salaries with the lowest ranked receiving Z$1.3 billion from $300 million. Senior officers were paid more according to rank.

Zimbabwe holds joint elections on March 29 to elect a new president and representatives of the senate, council and house of assembly. President Mugabe seeks a sixth term of office.

The deployment of soldiers in rural areas comes hard on the heels of reports that the government has also pulled all plugs to improve the diet in all army barracks which were reportedly experiencing food shortages, subjecting army personnel to a monotonous diet of beans and cabbage.

OhmyNews established that the soldiers are now served surprise sumptuous meals of rice, chicken among other niceties at army barracks these days, a departure from the daily diet of sadza and beans which soldiers used to complain about.

Army spokesperson, Colonel Samuel Tsatsi referred OhmyNews to General Chiwenga when contacted for comment. General Chiwenga did not confirm nor deny the allegations but went on to pledge the army's undying loyalty to Mugabe when contacted for comment.

"Elections are coming and the army will not support and salute sellouts and agents of the West before, during and after the presidential elections other than President Mugabe who has sacrificed a lot for the country," said General Chiwenga in a telephone interview.

General Chiwenga's comments follow those made by the head of the Zimbabwe Prison Services who was quoted telling a gathering of prison officers in the country's capital, Harare, that a loss for President Mugabe in the presidential poll will be a betrayal to the ruling Zanu-PF party which brought independence to the nation in 1980.

In the 2002 presidential elections, army chief, General Fidelis Zvinavashe also warned that the army would not salute opposition candidate, Tsvangirai should he win the presidential poll as he had no liberation war credentials.

Zimbabwe's security forces are credited with keeping President Mugabe in power by constantly crushing any dissent to his rule.

President Mugabe has in return pampered police chiefs, army chiefs and other security organ's chiefs with inviting incentives like farms and top of the range vehicles to ensure their undying loyalty to him.

Opposition parties have accused Mugabe of rigging the vote in past elections using the armed forces, among other government agencies, to retain power, but Zanu PF has denied manipulating the vote in its favor.

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