News / National
71 soldiers fired for theft, robbery
12 Dec 2014 at 09:31hrs | Views
A TOTAL of 71 soldiers have been court-martialled and dismissed from the Zimbabwe National Army for crimes that include theft, fraud and robbery, a senior official revealed last Friday.
The army has since resolved to publish names of dismissed soldiers to stop them from committing further crimes while claiming to be employed by the ZNA.
Speaking during a combined graduation parade at the Zimbabwe School of Infantry in Mbalabala, Major-General Douglas Nyikayaramba said 204 cases were brought before the general court martial for trial this year.
He said out of that number, 71 members were convicted and discharged, 47 members were discharged and imprisoned while 24 members were discharged with ignominy.
The general court martial is a legally constituted court to try offenders in the ZNA.
"Be warned that in a bid to effectively contain cases of indiscipline, fraud and theft, the army is now applying stiff penalties to anyone caught on the wrong side of the law and already some members of the force convicted of theft and fraud cases have left the service through discharge," said Maj-Gen Nyikayaramba.
He said there was no space for indiscipline in the army and anyone representing the ZNA in any capacity was expected to adhere to a rigorous code of conduct that barred criminal activity.
Maj-Gen Nyikayaramba warned members of the public to look out for former soldiers who, he said, are tarnishing the ZNA's image by robbing people of their valuables.
"It's some of these members that are masquerading as soldiers, committing offences and robbing people of their valuables," he said.
Maj-Gen Nyikayaramba challenged women to join the organisation as only six female students graduated out of 378.
"It's however not pleasing to note that there're a few ladies amongst the graduands, although the ZNA provides equal opportunities for all its members regardless of gender," he said.
Maj-Gen Nyikayaramba warned the graduands to be on the look out for bogus non-governmental organisations.
"These NGOs are moving around the country masquerading as charitable organisations when they are agents of hostile governments which sponsor and fund them through their intelligence services, with the primary aim to perpetuate their illegal regime change agenda in this country.
"Some NGOs have ordinarily come to replace the pre-colonial missionaries' duties and tasks in fore-running for the re-colonisation of Africa and post land redistribution Zimbabwe," he said.
On Thursday, 162 students graduated at the School of Military Police.
The army has since resolved to publish names of dismissed soldiers to stop them from committing further crimes while claiming to be employed by the ZNA.
Speaking during a combined graduation parade at the Zimbabwe School of Infantry in Mbalabala, Major-General Douglas Nyikayaramba said 204 cases were brought before the general court martial for trial this year.
He said out of that number, 71 members were convicted and discharged, 47 members were discharged and imprisoned while 24 members were discharged with ignominy.
The general court martial is a legally constituted court to try offenders in the ZNA.
"Be warned that in a bid to effectively contain cases of indiscipline, fraud and theft, the army is now applying stiff penalties to anyone caught on the wrong side of the law and already some members of the force convicted of theft and fraud cases have left the service through discharge," said Maj-Gen Nyikayaramba.
He said there was no space for indiscipline in the army and anyone representing the ZNA in any capacity was expected to adhere to a rigorous code of conduct that barred criminal activity.
"It's some of these members that are masquerading as soldiers, committing offences and robbing people of their valuables," he said.
Maj-Gen Nyikayaramba challenged women to join the organisation as only six female students graduated out of 378.
"It's however not pleasing to note that there're a few ladies amongst the graduands, although the ZNA provides equal opportunities for all its members regardless of gender," he said.
Maj-Gen Nyikayaramba warned the graduands to be on the look out for bogus non-governmental organisations.
"These NGOs are moving around the country masquerading as charitable organisations when they are agents of hostile governments which sponsor and fund them through their intelligence services, with the primary aim to perpetuate their illegal regime change agenda in this country.
"Some NGOs have ordinarily come to replace the pre-colonial missionaries' duties and tasks in fore-running for the re-colonisation of Africa and post land redistribution Zimbabwe," he said.
On Thursday, 162 students graduated at the School of Military Police.
Source - chronicle
