‘Chiefs a moral compass and backbone of rural life’

Mthokozisi Ncube recently in Matobo District

A delegation from the Zimbabwe National Defence University (ZNDU) paid a courtesy visit to Chief Nyangazonke in Matobo District on Friday as part of its ongoing educational study tours.

During the visit, the delegation observed a traditional court session presided over by the Chief, aimed at helping participants understand how traditional leaders handle criminal cases within the customary justice system.

Following the session, Chief Nyangazonke emphasised the importance of traditional courts and how they complement the formal judiciary in maintaining peace and order in rural communities.
He went on to explain the role of traditional leaders, stating, “Chiefs are both the moral compass and the backbone of rural life.”

In an interview, one of the university instructors, Brigadier General Lindiwe Ngwenya, explained how ZNDU evolved from the Zimbabwe National Defence College, whose foundation stone was laid on July 16, 2010 at the Rodgers Alfred Nikita Mangena Barracks, along Mazowe Road in Harare.

It was officially granted university status in 2017, becoming the country’s national institution for higher education in defence and security studies.

The university was established to address Zimbabwe’s and the Southern African region’s specialised needs in strategic, security, and defence training.

To ensure its students receive diverse knowledge, ZNDU has hosted guest lecturers including ambassadors and business leaders, with notable visits from countries such as China and others across Africa.

ZNDU is tasked with educating both military and civilian personnel in defence, security, leadership, and strategic studies. It also functions as a national think tank for policy, research, and security strategy.

The university currently hosts nine participants from other African countries — two from Nigeria and one each from Kenya, Zambia, Namibia, Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana and South Africa.

In return, Zimbabwean participants are also studying similar programmes in these partner countries.