There is widespread unease within the rank and file of the military over the state of the economy characterised by the rising cost of living, poor salaries and difficult working conditions.
The Independent quotes an unnamed military official as saying that soldiers are complaining that they are suffering like everyone else, the “povho”, and their grievances are being expressed with unusual frankness. Said the official:
There is widespread disgruntlement in the army mainly over the terrible state of the economy. If you read the weekly situation reports submitted to the Office of the President and Cabinet by various army departments, you will be shocked by the level of frankness with which these issues are articulated.
The biggest complaint among soldiers is that they have not been spared the economic crisis and their families are going hungry like everyone else. They also have rentals and bills to pay.
Soldiers are reportedly disgruntled over the loss of certain privileges and trappings of comfort they briefly enjoyed soon after the coup.
The military was at the forefront of the popular coup that overthrew the late former president Robert Mugabe in November 2017.