Zimbabwe slaughters elephants for army

• The country is facing acute food crisis after poor harvests

Sources said for the better part of last year barrack canteens were serving only plain sadza (a thick porridge made of ground maize) because authorities were unable to buy more food after funds allocated to the army were quickly exhausted mainly due to Zimbabwe’s runaway inflation.

Secretary for Defence Trust Maphosa last year told the parliamentary portfolio committee on defence and home affairs that the government was fortunate that it was not being sued by soldiers for failing to provide adequate and nutritious food to the army as is required by law.

In an unprecedented show of discontent, some soldiers last year rioted in Harare, assaulting civilians, stealing cash from street currency traders and looting shops.

However, analysts rule out the possibility of a military coup against Dr Mugabe – at least for now – because all top commanders are still relatively comfortable.

But some say that worsening hunger could at some point force the underpaid ordinary soldier to either openly revolt or to simply refuse to defend the government should Zimbabweans rise up in a civil rebellion.