Maj Gen Nyikayaramba hit nail on the head
EDITOR — Major General Douglas Nyikayaramba notes correctly that corruption is a national security threat and so indeed is fiscal mismanagement.
His proposal for an army budget of US$550 million is modest by all standards, except when read together with the rather small GDP. Then it looks extravagant.
Nato urges its member countries to budget at least 2 percent of GDP for their defence forces, but only a few spend as much.
If Zimbabwe was to do the same the combined army and air force budgets should be no more than half the army’s estimate for 2017.
The way to raise the amount going forward is growing the economy at double digit figures and that requires that for the time being expenditure be reduced.
It calls for innovation from the army, police, airforce and the intelligence corps if the nation is to pull itself from economic stagnation.
In terms of manpower in the defence forces, we have no option but to downsize by as much as two thirds to not more than 15 000 men under arms.
Given our history the onus is on the generals to suggest this to the Treasury, the executive and the legislature. Their country needs them. Chirorodziva, Via email