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Farirai Machivenyika and Susan Nyabunze
Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General Phillip Valerio Sibanda yesterday said the army will maintain a peaceful environment in the country to ensure successful implementation of Zim-Asset, the Government’s economic blueprint.Lt-Gen Sibanda said this in his traditional annual interview ahead of the 34th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces on Tuesday next week.
“Zim-Asset will not succeed if there is no peace and tranquility in the country and so our major role in ensuring that Zim-Asset succeeds is to ensure that there is peace within the country and that those who are charged with undertaking the many facets of Zim-Asset do so in an environment of complete peace,” he said.
“That is our major role in ensuring that Zim-Asset succeeds.”
Lt-Gen Sibanda said that sanctions-induced hardships being experienced in the country were temporary and that the embargo was imposed by countries opposed to programmes adopted by Zimbabwe to improve livelihoods of its populace. “We are celebrating ZDF day 2014 and we are now 34 years old and 34 years is very young in life,” he said. “We have achieved a lot of good things in the 34 years, not only as ZDF, but as a country.
“Yes, we have had challenges and we have suffered many difficulties and we continue to suffer, but as far as I am concerned, this is just a passing phase and if it is safe to say, no good thing comes on a silver platter.
“We have to work for it and the suffering that we have gone through, that we are going through, is because there is something good we have done for ourselves which other people don’t want to accept.
“They are trying to send a message out there that if we are allowed to succeed we will be a bad example to others in a similar situation like ours.”
Lt-Gen Sibanda said future generations will reap rewards from the suffering being experienced. He said that although the army was not spared from the effects of the illegal sanctions, it remained resolute in carrying out its mandate.
“The one thing that you need to understand is that as the army, we are part of the society, so when something happens to the society, it does affect us and yes, there have been some effects on us as a result of the sanctions, but we have and will continue to ensure that the sanctions do not completely overwhelm us in all ways, all facets that is,” said Lt-Gen Sibanda.
“We believe that, yes, the challenges are there, but we are dealing with these challenges and we will not be overwhelmed by these challenges.”
Lt-Gen Sibanda said the ZNA had made great achievement domestically, regionally and internationally, despite it being a young army. He said some of the assistance was in the health and education sectors and evacuating people in times of disasters. The army had also provided peacekeepers in various countries in Africa and abroad.
Online Reporter