Hare-Zimbabwe-The spate of uniformed soldiers who went on rampage in the capital Harare mid-last week and this Monday, over frustration from failure to withdraw cash at banks has raised eyebrows among the general public to the extent armed forces can remain loyal to the incumbent 84-year-old president Robert Mugabe as the economic and political meltdown continue to bite every facet of the economy in this Southern African country.
The recent development, a rarity in Zimbabwe since gaining political independence from British colonial rule in 1980, where soldiers have rather been known to crash dissenting voices but now being at the forefront of protest has set tongues wagging in the streets of Harare as people are left baffled as to the direction the unusual soldiers’ behavior might lead.
About 40 uniformed soldiers again Monday went on rampage destroying property and shop lifting.
It is the situation at banks where depositors spend most of their productive time in endless queues attempting a withdrawal of a meager 500 000 Zimbabwean dollars a day, enough to buy three tomatoes, which has not spared anyone, soldiers included that has brought this state of affairs.
The charge by armed personnel which began in earnest last Thursday when soldiers at a bank along Samora Machel Avenue, The Zimbabwe Allied Banking Group (ZABG), got frustrated when told that the bank had run out of cash. The soldiers ran amok assaulting staff at the bank and breaking windows in the process. Military police had to intervene to quell their raging colleagues. But as annoyance continued to grip the militia group the following day Friday, they vented their fury on members of the public, particularly illegal foreign currency dealers, whom they accused of holding on to the bulk of cash, which is in short supply in the formal system.
Police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena quoted in the government controlled daily The Herald confirmed on Saturday the arrest of soldiers, after about 15 of them reportedly stormed a bus terminus along fourth street, beating up people and destroying goods.
‘About six soldiers have been arrested for assault and are still in police custody while investigations are in progress," he t old the newspaper.
The “rebel” soldiers, notably from the junior ranks, come in the wake of reports that senior army officials are abusing the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) withdrawal facility meant to give soldiers 10 million Zimbabwean dollars at their barracks. Army officials in high positions are said to be withdrawing the money for their personal use forcing junior rank soldiers to join civilian queues in town.
The tense atmosphere surrounding cash withdrawal at banks is likely to be exacerbated by the labour body, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and other civil society groups’ call on depositors to join tomorrow, Wednesday’s protest against the central bank’s imposed cash withdrawal limits. This is despite the central bank Governor, Dr Gideon Gono announcing early this week that from Thursday this week, the withdrawal limit will be raised from $500 000 for individuals and $1 million for companies to $100 million and $150 million respectively.
ZCTU Secretary General, Mr. Wellington Chibhebhe however in an interview with The Zimbabwe Times adamantly said the protest would go on as scheduled this Wednesday.
“We are going ahead with the strike. We do not want any cash limits at all. Everyone must be allowed to collect their monies. Gono has been taking advantage of people’s silence.”
Chibhebhe said the cash scenario in the country has a “potential of getting completely” uncontrollable.
“Government can toss civilians but the situation becomes tricky with soldiers in that the moment they realize they can have their way, they will become totally uncontrollable.”
