adminEvelene Taadira Herald Reporter
Zimbabweans have been urged to remain resolute in defence of the country’s heritage and sovereignty in the face of illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the West.
“We should not tire in defending the gains of our hard won independence and never should we give our land to the detractors,” said Zimbabwe National Army Brigadier General Howard Matombo during the belated 33rd anniversary of the mounted regiment which was held together with the graduation parade for the regiment’s equitation course at Inkomo Barracks yesterday.
He commended the forces for maintaining high standards since independence and for voting resoundingly to secure President Mugabe and Zanu-PF victory in the recently held harmonised elections.
“You should be commended for having kept the mounted regiment alive from 1980 up to date against a backdrop of inadequate resources which have worsened due to illegal sanctions imposed upon us by the West and it allies,” he said.
“Of particular interest is the re-election of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the defence forces Cde Robert Mugabe and the more than two thirds majority in Parliament which was achieved in the face of adversity and concerted efforts by the West to undermine and rubbish the election in their quest to further their interests.”
He said the economic embargo had put the force under adverse conditions with limited resources but he was confident that the new Government will deliver to the best of its ability and improve the forces salaries and condition of service.
“I am confident there is going to be some improvement in remuneration once the new Government is in full swing,” he said.
Brig Gen Matombo urged the graduates to maintain high standards of discipline and execute their duties diligently.
Sixteen females graduated from within the group which had a total of 69 students drawn from different squadrons.
While equitation riding was the main course, the graduates also covered basic concepts of military training such as drills, weapon training, map reading, field craft, military civic education, minor tactics, voice procedure.
The mounted regiment specialises in horses and has been involved in both internal and external security operations in the past, such as border control operations at Beitbridge and Chirundu as well as operation “Hakudzokwi” in Chiadzwa.
The specialised force was also involved in observer and peacekeeping operations in Angola and Somalia.
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