Security situation ‘tense’ in Zimbabwe as food shortages worsen

By Tichaona Sibanda
06 March 2006

The country’s security forces are believed to have been put on high alert as government fears an uprising over food shortages, which an MDC legislator described on Monday as ‘very serious’.

Giles Mutsekwa, MP for Mutare North in Manicaland province, said the situation in the country is ‘very tense’ following unprecedented shortages of the staple food.

‘We have people in the country who have now gone for more than a week without eating sadza because there is no mealie-meal anywhere in the country,’ he said.

The MDC spokesman for defence said unlike in Zimbabwe, any modern description of security of any nation is when a government provides food and stability to its citizens.

‘Its exactly the opposite in Zimbabwe. There is no food, no jobs and no money and yes this warrants an uprising by any normal citizen. The people are thouroghly fed up now,’ said Mutsekwa.

News agency reports from Zimbabwe said Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi was reportedly co-ordinating the security alert with the army and police.

Mutsekwa confirmed this when he said they are aware government was mobilising the entire army in readiness for a popular revolt because they have anticipated this (uprising) in the last few months.

‘To show that they are dealing with a potentially explosive situation they have even recalled all soldiers who were on vacation and cancelled all leave for members of the defence forces.’