ZIMBABWE'S ARMED FORCES RECRUITMENT AGES

UNCLAS HARARE 002614 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/S, AF/EPS, EB/IFD/ODF, EB/TPP/ODC USDOC FOR 2037 ERIC HENDERSON PASS USTR/RWHITTAKER PASS OPIC FOR RNEHRA ILAB FOR RSHEPHARD NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER LONDON FOR CGURNEY PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PHUM ZI SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE'S ARMED FORCES RECRUITMENT AGES REF: STATE 149572 ¶1. PER REFTEL REQUEST, POST PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON THE RECRUITMENT PRACTICES AND AGE RESTRICTIONS OF ZIMBABWE'S MILITARY FORCES. -- THE MANDATORY MINIMUM, VOLUNTARY RECRUITMENT AGE FOR MILITARY SERVICE IS 18. (ALL RECRUITMENT INTO THE MILITARY IS VOLUNTARY AND THERE IS NO DRAFT OR CONSCRIPTION. GIVEN A FORMAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE EXCEEDING 60 PERCENT, THERE IS NO DEARTH OF CANDIDATES WHEN APPLICATIONS FOR INTAKE ARE ACCEPTED, RATHER, VERY LONG QUEUES ARE THE NORM.) -- AGE VERIFICATION OF RECRUITMENT CANDIDATES IS VIA BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND THE NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD. -- POST IS NOT AWARE OF ANY CREDIBLE REPORTS OF THE EXISTENCE OF MINORS OR THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 SERVING IN THE MILITARY IN ZIMBABWE -- VOLUNTEERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ARE NOT ACCEPTED INTO MILITARY FORCES. ROTH UNCLASSIFIED >