Govt working on capacitating defence forces: Minister Mthuli Ncube

HARARE - Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube has told parliament that government is working flat out to capacitate and equip the defence forces despite concerns raised by legislators.  

Ncube said the issue of salaries for the Defence Forces had been debated before, and government was adopting the military salary concept.  

"We introduced this concept two years ago, in fact three years ago. I spent a lot of time on it going through all the various items on it but it was eroded by inflation when we had the Zim dollar and also just the volatility of the currency. Therefore, it was affected by stability but now we have stability," Ncube said.  

"So, we are going to forge ahead and almost re‑implement this military salary concept. It will go a long way in dealing with the issues that Members are raising so that it is clear what type of allowances each category of a serving officer ought to receive and are receiving."  

He added that tools of trade were also being provided, noting that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had handed over vehicles to members of the Defence Forces.

"These vehicles are not paid for in one budget allocation. In fact, the vehicle programme is spread across three years. We pay a specific amount per month for a certain number of vehicles. We put those structures in place and what we budget for is what we pay for that specific year and then the following year and then the final year," Ncube said.

He explained that similar structures were in place for heavy‑duty equipment, with payments spread over ten years. He also addressed domestic debt, saying arrears created by over‑contracting during currency volatility would be cleared under a work plan.

"When it comes to medical services, there was a specific mention on Manyame. I would like to draw Members' attention to page 92 of the Blue Book, under the Air Force of Zimbabwe, you will see that we have budgeted for the Manyame Hospital," Ncube said.

He added that research and development programmes, including drones at Thornhill Air Base, were captured under the Air Force budget, while the Innovation Hub at the Zimbabwe National Defence University also supported defence research.

Ncube said government was encouraging the Defence Forces to utilise their assets to generate revenue.

"In one area, for example, we have encouraged them to even form their own construction company, which can also bid for some of the contracts for road construction and so forth, and why not? If they are able to do it, we are encouraging them to do that," he said.