Chronicle Editor
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
WHEN revered Chinese military strategist and revolutionary Mao-Tse-Tung in one of his speeches described the army as the fish and the people as the water, he might have had the Zimbabwe Defence Forces’ symbiotic relationship with the communities in mind.
The ZDF’s three-year engagement with the communities in Tsholotsho District in Matabeleland North Province has left the district transformed through infrastructure development projects that demonstrated the umbilical cord relationship between the communities and the army.
Over the past three years, military vehicles have become a common sight on the roads that lead to Tsholotsho as defence officers deployed for what arguably has become one of the biggest military community assistance programmes in Matabeleland North carried out their task with patriotic commitment and dedication.
In 2022, the Permanent Secretary in the then Ministry of War Veterans and Defence Ambassador Mark Marongwe handed over a classroom block at Sipepa Primary School constructed by the 1 Infantry Brigade.
Last year in August, Mbamba Clinic in the same district was handed over during the community assistance week that precedes the Defence Forces Day while on Tuesday, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Security, Brigadier-General (Rtd) Levi Mayihlome handed over classroom blocks at Tshino Secondary School in Tsholotsho.
Speaking during the hand-over ceremony, Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mayihlome said the increasing number of completed and ongoing projects around the country, in Matabeleland North, and Tsholotsho in particular was a clear demonstration of the strong ties between the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and the communities.
“It is delightful to note that the ZDF Community Assistance Programme which started off many years ago focusing on minor activities has been transformed to encompass bigger and more impactful projects.
“Under the ZDF Community Assistance Programme, the ZDF, as part of its peacetime operations, avails its skilled personnel for the refurbishment and construction of public facilities free of charge. The communities, in turn, provide the required building material and general labour,” he said.
He said they believe that the provision of skilled labour free of charge, will reduce the total costs of the projects, resulting in communities affording to embark on these projects while their participation in community development projects is in sync with President Mnangagwa’s mantra on development — the “ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo.”
“Allow me to extend my gratitude to the contribution being made by traditional leaders in promoting development in Matabeleland North and Tsholotsho in particular. They have been instrumental in mobilising communities to contribute towards development in our areas.
“Chiefs and traditional leaders are also the custodians of the infrastructure that we are building. In that regard, I would like to thank Chief Mathuphula and other traditional and local leaders in this area for mobilising resources for this project,” he said.
He also commended Tsholotsho’s diaspora community for not turning its back on their district as they continue to contribute to development projects through various ways including mobilising funds for infrastructure development projects.
Traditionally the ZDF also conducts medical outreach programmes as part of the ZDF Community Assistance Week and in that vein, a medical team is conducting free outreach medical assistance in Tsholotsho’s Sipepa Rural Hospital to enhance access to medical services for the beneficiaries.
Chief Mathuphula expressed his gratitude to the ZDF. He said with efforts being made by various stakeholders, he was hopeful that the shortage of infrastructure at the school would soon be a thing of the past.
Tshino Secondary School was established in 2018 to enhance access to education in the district. The establishment of the school reduced the distance travelled to the nearest secondary school for many students. At its inception, the newly established school faced a shortage of infrastructure.
The ZDF handed over more projects during this year’s Zimbabwe Defence Forces Community Assistance Week with the Permanent Secretary for Defence Mr Aaron Nhepera handing over a classroom block at Tsungai Primary School in Gokwe Nembudziya while the Commander ZDF General Philip Valerio Sibanda officiated at Charles Luwanga Secondary School in Chimanimani where the ZDF together with other stakeholders constructed classroom blocks at the school’s new site.
This follows the decision by the Government to move the school to a new site after the devastating impact of Cyclone Idai. @nyeve14
Bongani Ndlovu