Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – The Ministry of Defence is operating on less than a fifth of its funding needs while facing delayed disbursements and mounting legacy debt, a parliamentary portfolio committee said on Friday.
The Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs, Security Services and War Veterans Affairs, chaired by Xavier Maoneke, told the 2027 Pre-Budget Seminar that the Ministry’s bid of ZiG 116 billion was slashed to a Treasury ceiling of ZiG 21.8 billion, leaving an unfunded gap of ZiG 94 billion that cripples modernisation and day-to-day operations.
Presenting the outcomes from consultations with Stakeholders by the Portfolio Committee on Defense, Home Affairs, Security Services and War Veterans Affairs, Maoneke said the funding crisis is not new. In 2026 the Ministry bid ZiG 77.3 billion but was given a target of only ZiG 19.77 billion.
“At the indicative ceiling of ZiG 21.8 billion, critical priorities for 2027 will remain unfunded including ZDF (Zimbabwe Defence Forces) modernisation, vehicle fleet procurement, Research and Development, training, plant and mobile equipment maintenance, uniforms, rations, medical supplies, and national mine clearance operations,” Maoneke said.
He highlighted that low morale, obsolete equipment and a 50 percent loss of pilots to greener pastures were now affecting the country’s preparedness.
Supporting the committee, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri concurred with the Committee, saying the figures on the ground were even more dire.
By September 30, only 56.1 percent of the 2026 allocation had been released – with ZiG 8.66 billion unlikely to be released by year-end. Of what was released, 74.8 percent went to employment costs, 23.8 percent to operations and only 4.3 percent to capital expenditure meant for the Manyame Referral Hospital.
The Minister revealed the Ministry is saddled with ZiG 1.22 billion in outstanding pay runs and over ZiG 9 billion in legacy debt, largely from hiring cars.
“Had that money been given to us to purchase, we would not be struggling today. If you hire a car for three years, you would have bought it,” Muchinguri said.
She said the 149-bed Manyame Referral Hospital, 97 percent complete for two years, remains stalled and unequipped after the contractor moved off site, requiring an additional ZiG 1.4 billion.
“We have a 149-bed hospital which is 97% complete and has been like that for two years because the contractor has moved off site due to non-payment,” she said.
Muchinguri warned that failure to fund training, military procurement and Research and Development leaves Zimbabwe exposed in an era of drone warfare, where a $10,000 drone can destroy $200 million worth of combat equipment.
“In the Russia-Ukraine war, 70 percent of casualties are caused by drones. Terrorists and smugglers now use drones to move drugs, gold and other minerals, yet we lack jamming equipment,” she said.
She said barracks and cantonments are now outdated relative to regional standards and the country lacks helicopters, compromising mobility and national mine clearance operations.
The Committee has proposed that Treasury restart the idle Defence Procurement Fund, which has not been capitalised since dollarisation in 2009, and fully capitalise all strategic business units under Zimbabwe Defence Industries including small arms ammunition factory, high explosives, commercial explosives, mining investments, Defence Construction Command and equipment manufacturing to generate own revenue and reduce over-reliance on Treasury.
It also called for full implementation of the Military Salary Concept as directed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to curb brain drain in the forces.
New Ziana
