Hunger hits BDF barracks
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday February 21, 2023 06:00
Of recent, army officers allege they are 'dying of hunger', a situation that is said to be worsening. It is alleged that soldiers are at times fed a single fruit for supper, motogo or Tsabana for breakfast and sometimes get fed plain rice with tomato sauce and mayonnaise without any protein for lunch. In the past, soldiers' ration trended across social media platforms, something that was believed to have also been the reason for attracting high numbers of women who flocked to the barracks to feast. However, since October last year, soldiers who are fed at military kitchens have been complaining of hunger with feeding portions allegedly reduced.
The army, however, has since denied the allegations despite admitting supply challenges. BDF spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Fana Maswabi admitted that some contracted suppliers are grappling with price variations on certain food commodities due to inflation, something that has resulted in a few interrupted supplies of food in the army. “So far, stock levels are adequate and BDF is doing everything within its power to ensure the availability of food supplies to prepare well-balanced meals for its soldiers at all times,” he said in response to The Monitor questionnaire.
“It is also worth noting that the BDF feeding system is guided by the rationing system and diet requirements which direct the quantities to be consumed by a single soldier per meal each day.” Maswabi said it is, therefore, very prudent that the meals fed to the soldiers in the BDF kitchens comply with the sanctioned ratio and diet per meal per day. He further stated that BDF takes issues of welfare including feeding its soldiers seriously. “It is the responsibility of the BDF to feed its soldiers accommodated in the institutional single quarters, which is also their entitlement, the BDF makes it a priority to adhere to such a responsibility at all costs,” he said.
Despite allegations that sometime last week soldiers at the Village BDF camp were served Tsabana for breakfast as the situation worsens, Maswabi dismissed the reports. He stated that the military does not serve ‘Tsabana’ in BDF kitchens since it has never been part of the approved menu.