from our correspondent in Harare

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s beleaguered government has awarded huge pay rises to the army ahead of critical elections next month in a bid to calm the restless military.

But the move is set to backfire on him as there is a growing strife among the bulk of civil servants who have been left out in the latests hefty pay rises. Union leaders have threatened industrial action if their members are not awarded salary increases similar to those received by soldiers.

Mr Mugabe’s bankrupt government this month awarded hefty pay increases to disgruntled soldiers in an apparent move to buy their loyalty ahead of crucial joint elections on March 29.

The move is widely seen as an attempt to pacify the soldiers who have been restive due to poor working conditions and low salaries. The opposition accuses Mugabe’s government of vote-buying and ballot-rigging. The army is a pillar of strength in Mugabe’s embattled regime.

Mugabe’s verbosity

Mr Mugabe is facing a stiff challenge from former finance minister Simba Makoni and main opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Mr Mugabe has described Makoni as a "political prostitute" and behaving like a "puffed-up frog", while saying Tsvangirai is a "puppet" of the west.

Surprise, you have been awarded an increment !

Sources said army personnel were pleasantly surprised to find relatively large amounts of money in their usually empty bank accounts after the government deposited huge sums to cushion them against rampant inflation, which rose beyond 100000% last week, the world’s highest.

The army got windfalls of between Z$1bn and Z$3bn in salaries depending on the rank this month, while teachers got Z$500m on average. Leader of the pro-government Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association Tendai Chikowore warned teachers would go on a full-scale industrial action next week if the government did not urgently undertake a major salary review to put them at par with soldiers.

Others claim their fair share

Said Mr Chikowore, "Our members are now very impatient. We are consulting all provinces this week and I must say we are under pressure to call for industrial action," he said.

The militant Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe accuses Mr Mugabe’s regime of being "insensitive and discriminatory" by giving soldiers hefty salaries, while "impoverished teachers and other civil servants get peanuts every month".

The government which employees all civil servants is responsible for paying the salaries of soldiers, police officers and Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) operatives through its various employment commissions.

Government sources say CIO agents who did not receive the windfalls that were received by soldiers this February are also bitter and have sent a delegation to approach CIO director general Happiton Bonyongwe with their grievances.

Bonyongwe has been linked with Zanu PF factional fighting, with strong suggestions he is associated with former finance minister Simba Makoni who has launched a bid for the country’s presidency.