Board of inquiry to investigate near mutiny at military academy
By Tichaona Sibanda
2 February 2007
The Zimbabwe National Army commander has reportedly ordered a board of inquiry to investigate circumstances surrounding last week’s disturbances at the Gweru based Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA).
On Tuesday we revealed that the Military Academy was sealed off last week, following a standoff between army cadets and their instructors over salaries. It’s reported the army saw this as a near mutiny.
MDC’s Mutare north MP Giles Mutsekwa said the board of inquiry convened by General Phillip Sibanda comprises senior army officers and includes the commandant of the ZMA. The inquiry began hearing evidence on Monday, according to Mutsekwa.
The strike by the trainee soldiers over salaries is the first of its kind in the history of the Zimbabwe National Army and it’s feared it could have serious repercussions for the instigators.
Mutsekwa, who is also Morgan Tsvangirai’s military adviser, said the standoff is being regarded as very serious in the army and could signal the end of the cadets’ military careers. The number of cadets involved is not known, but it’s believed they’ve all been detained incommunicado inside the military fortress, pending the conclusion of the inquiry.
‘I think the issue that triggered this standoff is that all these regular cadets at the ZMA are people who have not been or are not connected whatsoever with the history of the liberation struggle. Therefore during their training they’re there purely as professionals, they don’t want to be indoctrinated by the usual Zanu (PF) propaganda,’ Mutsekwa said.
The atmosphere at the academy is reportedly still very tense with a lot of officers from the cadet wing being viewed with suspicion for allegedly influencing the cadets to stand up for their rights.
Relatives of the cadets involved have not been allowed to see them and there are fears they may have been brutally interrogated. The standoff and subsequent investigations have been ignored by the state media.
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