Sekai Manyere-Herald Reporter
ALGERIA has donated 135 computers to the Ministry of Defence to support training at two key military institutions.
The equipment will be deployed at the Zimbabwe Staff College and the Air Force of Zimbabwe’s School of Academic and Staff Training.
Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said the donation would bolster teaching, learning, research, and information management across both institutions.
“Modern military education cannot happen without the use of information and communication technology,” the minister said.
She added that the computers would enhance access to digital learning resources, alongside supporting research, military studies, and operational planning.
The donation followed a request made during a meeting with Algeria’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Mohamed Seoudi, in July 2025.
The request was referred to the minister’s Algerian counterpart, who responded favourably.
Expressing gratitude to the government and people of Algeria, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri described the donation as a testament to the friendship and solidarity between the two nations.
“Zimbabwe and Algeria had longstanding defence ties dating back to the liberation struggle, when Algeria provided support and military training to Zimbabwean cadres,” the minister said.
She noted that both colleges play a central role in preparing military officers and Government officials to respond to complex security challenges and provide effective leadership.
“We will ensure that the equipment is correctly deployed, properly managed, maintained and used for its intended educational and institutional purposes,” she said.
The minister reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to strengthening defence cooperation with Algeria through military education, training, professional exchanges, and capacity development.
Speaking after the presentation, Ambassador Seoudi confirmed that the bilateral partnership dates back to the liberation struggle and would continue to be sustained through training, scholarships, and equipment.
“Our cooperation between the two Ministers of Defence of Algeria and Zimbabwe was not born yesterday; it dates back to our struggle for independence,” he said.
The ambassador expressed hope that the coming years would see expanded joint training initiatives, including the training of Zimbabwean military personnel in Algeria.
Mr Seoudi emphasised that Algeria views human resources as its most valuable asset, offering scholarships in various fields alongside technical equipment to support skills development.
“We have another struggle, which is the struggle of development. In Algeria, we believe that the best capital to have is human resources,” he said.
He concluded by reiterating that Algeria had historically supported African nations, including Zimbabwe, in their struggles against colonialism, and remains fully committed to post-independence cooperation.
