Zimbabwe

Troops riot over pay

Article published on the 2008-12-02 Latest update 2008-12-02 15:27 TU

Mugabe at the UN development conference in Doha
(Credit: Reuters)

The Zimbabwean national army fired teargas at disgruntled soldiers on Monday outside a commercial bank in Harare, after they were told there was no more money in the bank to pay them. The protesting soldiers had reportedly looted shops and attacked civilians.

The army on Tuesday denied that it had ordered the soldiers to beat up money-changers outside the bank and to loot shops.

There were reports of gunfire during the riot, as well.

"It's probably just a few small number of indisciplined soldiers who are doing this," Colonel Simon Tsatsi told the AFP news agency.

"This is the third time in a week that soldiers have gone on the rampage in Harare, and it is deeply worrying for Robert Mugabe's government," says correspondent Ryan Truscott.

Mugabe's hold on the forces has been key to his firm grip of power in the country. It is one of the reasons that he has not ceded over the police portfolio to the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change, headed by Morgan Tsvangirai.

The banks in the country are faced with chronic currency shortages while inflation has hit 231 million per cent.

People have been camping out just to withdraw money from the bank.

"The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, one of Zimbabwe's strongest labour organisations, is demanding people to go to their banks to demand their cash on Wednesday," said Truscott.

Money-changers have become commonplace as black marketeers deal in foreign currency.

While the political crisis continues, the country is the midst of a cholera epidemic and a food shortage.