HARARE — A soldier in Zimbabwe’s army now earns $22 a month and new recruits lack the most basic training, a serving NCO has told the Daily Telegraph.

Corporal Peter Choto, who joined the army 10 years ago, painted a vivid picture of a military machine in collapse. President Mugabe relies on the army to keep him in power and its generals are now believed to be the most powerful men in Zimbabwe. While they have grown rich, hyperinflation that now exceeds 2 million percent has impoverished their troops.

Corporeal Choto — not his real name — takes home pounds $26 a month. The World Bank’s definition of absolute poverty is a monthly wage of $30.

“At least three quarters of us would not take up arms for Zimbabwe,” he said. “I am not going to take a risk with a rifle for Zimbabwe. That time is gone.”

Soldiers survive on minimal food and Corporeal Choto said he had been hungry for “at least a year.”

“Three years ago we got porridge, sausage, bacon, sometimes eggs. We always got meat at least once a day,” he said. Today, soldiers get two plates of maize meal, or “sadza,” a day.

Corporeal Choto said: “There are 500 recruits at the cantonment. If the world saw them, the world would be shocked as they are so thin. At least 100 report sick every day.

“They are passing out next week and they haven’t been to the rifle range once, because that ammo is being reserved for emergencies.”

Corporeal Choto admitted taking part in the campaign against the opposition Movement for Democratic Change before the presidential elections but said he “didn’t have to do the beating myself, but I saw it.” “You have to do the beating or you are labelled MDC. Then you will just be discharged and sent to prison.”

One of Corporeal Choto’s soldiers personally beat to death an elderly woman. “My friend came back and confessed and was shaking,” Corporeal Choto said. “We said this is not the way it should be. We are supposed to be protecting, not making people suffer.”