THIS is why soldiers in Uruguay are NOT allowed to vote during active duty!

(I've never mentioned it on here but I have been following with great interest - more really like horror actually - the goings-on over the last ten years in Zimbabwe. It's incredible to see how far and how fast condidions in that country have become just... horrifying. The drop in standard of living.

If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere.

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- A top Zimbabwe army general called on the nation's soldiers to vote for Robert Mugabe in a presidential runoff or quit the military, the official media reported Saturday.

Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Martin Chedondo told troops at a target-shooting competition to leave the military if they did not support Mugabe, the state Herald newspaper reported.

"Soldiers are not apolitical. Only mercenaries are apolitical. We have signed up and agreed to fight and protect the ruling party's principles of defending the revolution. If you have other thoughts, then you should remove that uniform," he was quoted as saying.

He told soldiers at the Cleveland shooting range outside Harare on Friday that Mugabe was head of the nation's defense forces.

"We should therefore stand behind our commander in chief," he reportedly said.