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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Zimbabwe police, soldiers banned from quitting service |
| 2006-03-25 |
| Zimbabwe police and soldiers have been banned from resigning from their jobs until they have served for at least 10 years, as top commanders battle to stem a tide of young officers leaving because of poor pay and working conditions, ZimOnline has learnt. Poor salaries and working conditions have eroded morale among junior police officers and soldiers. For example, a soldier or policeman who has just finished training takes home about Z$9 million which is many times less than the $28 million the government's Central Statistical Office says an average family of six people requires for basic goods and services per month. Sources at the discharge sections of the army and police headquarters in Harare said a combined total of 3,000 troops and police officers had left the security forces since January. At least 500 police officers had tendered their letters of resignation in the month of February alone before the Joint Operations Command (JOC) decided in the first week of this month to ban further resignations by officers who have not done 10 years on the job, the sources said. The JOC comprises the commanders of army, air force, police and prison service. It is chaired by Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Constantine Chiwenga. In a memo to police provincial commanders dated March 6, 2006 and written after the JOC meeting, Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri instructed that "only those members (of the police force) who have served for 10 years and above should be allowed to leave." Chihuri also ordered his provincial commanders to thoroughly check and verify the stated reasons for resignation and said junior officers wishing to go and further studies either in Zimbabwe or abroad should provide proof including acceptance letters from the intended places of study before their requests to be allowed to leave can be processed. Several police officers and soldiers have in the past duped their commanders to grant them temporary leave of absence to study abroad but once outside the country have refused to return after finding menial but better paying jobs in countries such as Britain and the United States. An official at the army's public and press relations office refused to discuss the ban on resignations saying the amry never discloses to the Press the number of people joining or leaving because this was a security matter. "I cannot talk about that Â…. it is a security matter," the official said. Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena would not take questions on Chihuri's memo to provincial police commanders but still insisted officers were free to leave the police force whenever they felt they could no longer work for the organisation. Chihuri last year told a special committee of Parliament that dissatisfaction was rising among his officers because of poor pay and warned the legislators that the country was running a huge security risk by underpaying its police. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #2 That sounds like an EXCELLENT plan! Keep pissing off those that have the training AND access to weapons and are versed in all sorts of tactics. Then when they overthrow the gov't, all can act surprised! I mean, c'mon, they are getting 9 MILLION Zimbucks; that should buy some sort of loyalty. (Sarc key busted) |
| Posted by: USN Ret. 2006-03-25 23:30 |
| #1 Who can you trust? |
| Posted by: john 2006-03-25 20:05 |