Defence forces address supplier indiscipline, budget constraints

THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) have expressed concerns about undisciplined suppliers who frequently demand payment for goods and services in foreign currency and often overprice them.

This was highlighted by the Minister of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, during the official opening of the 2025 strategic planning workshop, which spanned five days at a Bulawayo hotel last week.

The army commanders met from Monday to Friday last week to review their performance in the 2024 cycle and plan for the coming year.

This annual feature for every Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA) under the Second Republic is intended to accelerate economic development as guided by the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which will soon transition to NDS2.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri emphasised the need for the army to accelerate its internal judicial system by becoming an integral part of the Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS), which guarantees efficiency in the internal justice delivery system.

“I am aware that our performance during the year under review was, to a significant extent, negatively affected by multifaceted factors including budgetary constraints, demands by suppliers for payment in foreign currency, and general indiscipline by our suppliers who overcharge for products and services, affecting the ministry’s efforts to achieve value for money,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri in her address to army commanders, including her deputy Retired-Brigadier Levi Mayihlome, Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube, and ZDF Commander, General Philip Valerio Sibanda.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri noted that the security forces continue to face inadequate budget allocations from the treasury and must therefore think outside the box for self-reliance and self-sufficiency.

“The ministry is taking deliberate bold steps to revamp business activities under the Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI) and the Defence Economic Development Department (DEDD) with a view to scaling up resource mobilisation and augmenting funding from the treasury.

“Equally important are strategies for our special purpose vehicles to capitalise on opportunities presented by the Second Republic, which include infrastructural development, food and nutrition security, and power generation, among others,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.

She stressed that as the security forces seek to modernise their operations, they must not lose sight of the need to revamp procurement procedures to align with the provisions of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act and the Defence Procurement Act. She also reminded the Generals of the need to expedite the alignment of the Defence Act with the 2013 national Constitution.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri highlighted the importance of administering international treaties and protocols under the engagement and re-engagement thrust. President Mnangagwa has directed the fast-track ratification of the biological weapons convention and the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.

“We must ensure this is done without delay. The world is in constant motion and faced with increasing non-traditional threats. As a member of the global community, part of our mandate is to promote international peace and security. I am pleased to note that the ZDF has performed this function with honour and distinction. Our current involvement in peacekeeping and maintenance operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mozambique, where we are contributing both human and financial resources, are typical examples,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.

She noted that the ZDF’s operational environment is becoming increasingly complex, hence strategic planning must take into account the exigencies to meet the dictates of the current situation and the expectations of stakeholders.

“In our case, this will include the expectations of our members, particularly in relation to conditions of service. A motivated force is a precondition for us to deliver on our obligations. The welfare of our members must be a top priority, and this planning workshop should therefore proffer concrete strategies to address the perennial accommodation, transport, and remuneration challenges affecting our members,” said the minister.