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Statement
on ZNA recruitment drive
Bulawayo Agenda
November 18, 2010
In response to an article entitled "Zimbabwe National Army
in recruitment drive in Matabeleland" which appeared in The
Chronicle dated Wednesday 17 November 2010, Bulawayo Agenda totally
condemns the said selective recruitment drive for Matabeleland in
its totality for these reasons:
1. We are not
in a war situation. Our understanding of the role of the army is
that it exists to defend the territorial integrity of the country
and any said recruitment should be to this effect. We do not see
any significant security threat to warrant fresh mass recruitment.
2. This is a
plot to weaken the Matabeleland electorate through a postal vote
mechanism. Voting of the military is highly vulnerable to manipulation
and this would have an adverse effect on the political voice of
the people of Matabeleland.
3. Why Matabeleland
from all the regions in particular. We have seen Matabeleland being
used as a political laboratory for all sorts of experiments and
we feel this is one such project.
4. Matabeleland
youths need to be absorbed by the virtually non-existent industries
that now characterize Bulawayo and Matabeleland in particular.
5. Where will
the money to pay these youths come from? More than 70% of the treasury's
revenue collections are going towards the civil service wage bill
which also includes ghost workers and this will add a bigger burden
on the fiscus.
6. Matabeleland
has more pressing priorities than employing its youth by the military.
People of Matabeleland need water not the Army. Employ all these
youths in the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project than make them
soldiers. We believe they will be used to perpetuate violence during
elections, next year if they join the Army.
We would like
to urge the youths to boycott the said recruitment exercise up and
until issues raised above are noted. Youths should never be used
for political again.
Visit the Bulawayo
Agenda fact sheet
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