MDC-T to retire soldiers on reaching 45 years

The MDC-T says it will retire serving soldiers with the rank of sergeant and below on reaching 45 years. It intends to bring changes in the Zimbabwe Republic Police by "restructuring senior ranks and examining the role played by various police auxiliary forces".

An MDC-T government will cut the civil service and the army, according to a 246-page volume of MDC-T policy discussion papers set to be tabled at the party's policy conference set to begin in Harare today.

The dossier titled, "Movement  for Democratic Change Policy Discussion Papers: The MDC's Plan to Build A New Zimbabwe That Is Open, Transparent, Just And Provides Good Quality Life To All Its Citizens," says the MDC-T will abolish the open contract system for senior civil servants which it says will be replaced by non-renewable job contracts.

Reads the draft: "The MDC is committed to retaining and re-orienting the civil service so that it becomes more efficient and lean and serves the people with integrity and to the best of their ability. All senior civil servants will be appointed on term limited contracts that can only be reviewed once, after that they will be required to retire."

"It is the intention of the MDC to work with military commanders to reduce the size of the army to a level that is adequate for dealing with the expected demands to be made to them . . . At the same time the army will be enabled to rebuild its capacity in the acquisition and use of heavy weaponry appropriate to the threat and need levels that are agreed," reads the draft document.

The MDC-T says it will retire serving soldiers with the rank of sergeant and below on reaching 45 years. It intends to bring changes in the Zimbabwe Republic Police by "restructuring senior ranks and examining the role played by various police auxiliary forces".