admin
Talent Chimutambgi-Herald Reporter
The Air Force of Zimbabwe will continue to explore training that resonates with the Education 5.0 model to maintain its formidability in defending the country’s airspace.
Commander of the AFZ Air Marshal John Jacob Nzvede, appointed in March this year, said during an interview at the Josiah Magama Barracks ahead of next week’s Zimbabwe Defence Forces celebrations that heritage-based Education 5.0 will maintain the expected modern standards of the AFZ.
Air Marshal Nzvede was guided by the dictates of the Constitution of Zimbabwe where the AFZ draws its mandate.
“As you may be aware, regarding education, the Government is implementing Education 5.0 which places emphasis on heritage-based learning that is supported by five pillars namely: research, teaching, community service, innovation and industrialisation.
“The Air Force of Zimbabwe training has been rightly guided by the policy. This is being implemented at our major schools. For example, at the School of Technical Training at Manyame Air Force Base, the students who graduate with a Higher National Diploma are required to undertake research and complete a project that solves a local problem.
“Similarly, the School of Flying Training does not only teach flying skills to students, but it now produces rounded officers who graduate with a degree in Aviation Sciences,” said Air Marshal Nzvede.
The AFZ had partnered with higher learning institutions to bridge the technological gap. “After having seen these remarkable achievements, the second phase of research and development has commenced in earnest.
“In this phase, the Air Force of Zimbabwe has developed partnerships with local universities, industry as well as international partners to develop equipment and systems that will close the technological gap with other air forces on the continent and beyond,” said Air Mashal Nzvede.
“For those who have followed the recent developments in warfare, it has become apparent that research and development has eroded the advantages that other powers had. For instance, the advent of unmanned aerial vehicles and other drones has challenged militaries across the globe to reconsider the old tactics and strategies,” he said.
“Equally, I am challenged to lead the Air Force of Zimbabwe to reach greater heights in a new era characterised by high technology. In this navigation to fulfill the roles of the Air Force of Zimbabwe, I have been guided by the vision of the organisation which challenges us to build a small, well equipped, robust and hard-hitting air force capable of effectively defending Zimbabwe’s airspace,” said Air Marshal Nzvede.
“For military organisations such as the Air Force of Zimbabwe, training is a critical factor for the successful conduct of operations. Security threats by their nature do not give warning and it is against this reality that the air force must be able to get into its strides as a fighting service without a moments’ delay and with minimum mistakes,” he said.
“On training, I want to state that the future of the Air Force of Zimbabwe and indeed the nation, is in the hands of the young generation. Be that as it may, the question is on how we can empower the young generation to take up these future roles and maintain the legacy of the Air Force of Zimbabwe,” said Air Marshal Nzvede.
Air Marshal Nzvede was committed to maintaining standards to ensure continuity in the discharge of its roles and to pursuing national aspirations.
Online Reporter