Retired top Zimbabwe soldiers unhappy over benefits

Concerns are mounting among serving and retired members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces amid allegations that retirement benefits are being selectively administered based on political alignment.

Sources cited by The Standard claim that benefits outlined under Statutory Instrument 257 of 2020 - the State Service (Pensions) (Uniformed Forces) (Amendment) Regulations - are being inconsistently applied, with some retired officers allegedly denied entitlements due to internal politics.

The regulations set out a structured package of retirement benefits for commissioned and non-commissioned officers, including rank promotions prior to retirement, residential accommodation or free transfer of state-provided housing, and access to motor vehicles at heavily reduced residual values.

For senior officers such as colonels and group captains, the regulations provide for promotion to brigadier general or air commodore before retirement, along with housing and vehicles. Lower-ranking officers are also entitled to scaled housing allocations and vehicle benefits depending on rank.

However, disgruntled former officers say these provisions are not being applied uniformly.

"These benefits have been weaponised and are denied to some of the retired members because of internal politics that is affecting the forces these days," one source claimed.

Another retired senior military official said some former officers were dying in poverty after being denied benefits they believed they were legally entitled to.

"A lot of our comrades are dying in abject poverty after leaving service because they were denied these benefits provided for under SI 257," he said. "The benefits are now being used as a political tool and this should stop."

The allegations suggest that entitlement inconsistencies span across ranks, from senior commissioned officers to warrant officers, despite the regulations clearly outlining benefits such as housing allocations ranging from 300 to 3 000 square metres and access to subsidised vehicles.

Under the framework, some officers are entitled to free or subsidised private residences, while others receive official vehicles, including pick-ups and sedans, at reduced residual costs.

The Zimbabwe Defence Forces had not responded to questions on the matter at the time of publication.

The claims add to growing unease among some former personnel, who argue that the welfare system for retired uniformed officers is being undermined by internal divisions within the security establishment.