Table of contents : Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgements List of acronyms Note by the author 1. An introduction Contextualising soldiers in Zimbabwe Book structure 2. Recruitment and training Introduction Integration and recruitment: strengthening the base Stripping and shrugging the ‘civilian mentality’ Drills, military dressing, and discipline Circumventing military command and control Conclusion Notes 3. Military intelligence, politics, and loyalty in combat uniform Introduction Soldiers as victims in the army barracks Charlie Mike and his compatriots Whisky Papa and other deserters Conclusion Note 4. Empty combat bellies, troop canteens: Barracks of hunger Introduction From the Congo war to Zimbabwean barracks Barrack kitchen arrangement Quartermaster: keeping and stealing army rations Empty canteens: 001 Ma Off eZhara: time off because of hunger Outside the barracks: sustaining the barracks Calling off parades and other military activities Conclusion 5. Promotion and demotion of rank Introduction Political armies: Africa and beyond Political speeches: army generals Promotion and demotion: the two armies in army barracks Conclusion Note 6. Military prosecution and detention Introduction Military court martial Incompetent military prosecutors/judges Distinction between court martial and civilian court The Zimbabwe Defence Act Chapter 11: 02: interpretation and punishment Offences on morale Mutiny Conclusion 7. Dreaming the military: Re-living the barracks in exile Introduction Soldiering in church Perpetuation of the military past: socialities in exile Camaraderie spaces Humour and jokes Between justification and remorse Military skills: the only resource on the labour market Conclusion Note 8. Mobilising the coup in the barracks Introduction Director of military intelligence in all the barracks General Chiwenga visit Celebrating army generals in politics? Conclusion Concluding remarks References Index