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Vol 49 No 25

Published 12th December 2008


Zimbabwe

Mutinies, money and Mugabe

After soldiers rampage through Harare, the Reserve Bank Governor delivers cash directly to the barracks

The 1 December ‘mutiny’ precipitated fierce clashes between the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), which deployed anti-riot police after several of its members were beaten by the soldiers ‘for surviving on bribes while we languish in the barracks’, according to an army officer. Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi hastily convened a press conference, flanked by Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander Constantine Chiwenga and ZNA Commander Lieutenant General Phillip Sibanda. Unconvincingly, Sekeramayi claimed the army rebels had connived with the government’s political opponents. The army would deal decisively with the mutineers; a handful were arrested and will be court-martialled.

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