Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu , [email protected]
THE Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has said the drug and substance abuse menace is now affecting its recruitment exercise as potential recruits were failing to meet medical requirements.
Speaking yesterday at 1 Infantry Brigade ‘Matabeleland South Traditional Leaders Day’ held at Chief Masuku’s homestead in Gwanda, ZNA Chief of Staff Administration Staff, Major-General Emmanuel Matatu, said Matabeleland region was failing to meet its recruitment quota due to drug and substance abuse among other challenges.
He said some of the potential recruits were also engaged in illegal gold panning while others had left the country to seek the so called greener pastures in neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Botswana.
Major-General Matatu appealed to chiefs to encourage the youths in the region to join the army and be part of the country’s security system.
During the event all 32 chiefs from Matabeleland South received farming inputs and grocery hampers.
“In our recruitment process we have been facing challenges in Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North and Mashonaland West as they have been failing to meet their targets,” said Major-General Matatu.
He said he had to send back officers to re-do the recruitment exercise in a bid to meet the targets of affected provinces.
“One of the reasons is drug and substance abuse. Some youngsters have failed medical tests because they are abusing drugs. We can’t recruit such people because in the army we need people who are upright and are in a state to defend the country,” said Major-General Matatu.
He said some of the youths who are supposed to join the army were engaged in illegal gold panning while others have left the country to seek employment in neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Botswana.
“When we do the recruitment, it’s our desire to have the same number of recruits for all the districts but districts in Matabeleland South and North are failing to meet the target.”
Maj-Gen Matatu said the army needs the involvement of traditional leaders in identifying youths who can join the army.
He said chiefs should claim their space in the community in terms of enforcing moral values.
“We want our recruitment process to be thorough and more effective and that’s why we will now be engaging traditional leaders so that they can direct us. We need upright men and women who will defend our country,” said Major Gen-Matatu.
In an interview, Chief Masuku said drug and substance abuse requires a collective response from all stakeholders.
He said the community should assist the police in bringing the culprits to book. — @DubeMatutu.
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