adminThe defence forces continue to do that even to this day and we owe the peace we enjoy today to our gallant security forces. Before independence they made a lot of sacrifices as freedom fighters to liberate this country by waging a bitter war with the colonial regime until Zimbabwe was born. After independence they were constituted into the Zimbabwe National Army and the Air Force of Zimbabwe under whose ambits they continued to serve their country diligently. Changes were later made to the security laws to create a single command for the army and air force under the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. In the early years of Zimbabwe’s independence, our security forces distinguished themselves in safeguarding the country’s economic interests and ensure peace, which were under threat from the then Mozambican rebel group Renamo and apartheid South Africa.
The defence forces have undertaken the majority of their operations with the objective of protecting the country’s economic interests, territorial integrity and infrastructure and ensuring a peaceful environment, which is a precondition for economic and social activities.
It is with this in mind that we welcome the call by the National Defence College for an inquiry into companies that have been closing operations in recent years.
The college is seeking an appreciation of economic problems and their impact on national security. The National Defence College on Tuesday met business people in Bulawayo to discuss the economic misfortunes of the city of Bulawayo. The college will go to other parts of Zimbabwe where the trend of closing companies has been similar. The college has been to Mutare, Manicaland and Masvingo and will also visit Matabeleland North province. The National Defence College wants to get an understanding of the grave situation, as it is a threat to the security of the country.
In Bulawayo alone, nearly 100 companies have closed leaving close to 20 000 people jobless. More companies continue to close and the number of retrenched workers keeps on growing. While some find other economic activities to pursue after being retrenched, the majority are left idle and these could pose a security risk to the country.
Just a few months after its official opening the National Defence College is already proving its relevance to the country and its citizens. A lot of unfair comments are heaped on our security forces yet they are our protectors and do not fail us in that regard.
When the National Defence College was officially opened we hailed the development as yet another milestone in Zimbabwe’s security and tertiary education history. The college was not set up not to only serve the military but other sectors including civilians from both the public and private sectors. It was high time the country came up with such an institution to play the role of a think tank. The new defence college is taking its rightful place by probing the company closures and acting as a national think tank on national security matters to provide input to the Government, the defence forces and the generality of the Zimbabwean population.
This is part of equipping the security forces with the requisite skills required to safeguard Zimbabwe’s territorial integrity, national interest and its citizens. In the ever-changing global village that we live in today, it is imperative for the country to keep abreast with latest trends in all facets of socio-economic activities. We hope those who were opposed to Government establishing the National Defence College will realise the objective and relevance behind the setting up of such an institution.
Online Reporter