adminInnocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces should embark on a robust research and development programme to substitute importation of equipment and spares to overcome the illegal sanctions imposed on the country, Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has said.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of Junior Staff Course Number 35 at the School of Academic and Staff Training at Manyame Air Base, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Government would continue supporting such initiatives by availing resources to ZDF.
“Drawing from lessons learnt from the imposition of the illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe, it is now important for us to embark on a robust research and development programme in order to substitute importation of equipment and spares,” she said. “Human capital development is instrumental in the sound functioning of organisations and flourishing of careers. A career in the defence forces calls for critical decision making, coordination, planning, controlling and organisation. This is so, given that the defence and security threats continue to evolve, in response to political and socio-economic dynamics.”
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said her ministry, notwithstanding competing demands amid the current financial constraints, was committed to continue supporting human capital development initiatives in the ZDF by availing resources.
She said defence and security threats continued to transcend national borders and this called for strong bilateral and multilateral defence and security cooperation. Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said in as much as the country required skilled human capital it also required patriotic cadres with deep understanding of intrinsic values.
“It is, therefore, pleasing to note that the School of Academic and Staff Training continues to contribute to ZDF’s military training exchange programme with their counterparts in the region,” she said.
“The programme seeks to strengthen bilateral and multilateral defence and security cooperation in Africa and especially in the SADC region and this dovetails with our defence policy on contribution to international peace and stability.”
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said ZDF will continue participating in the programme by keeping the doors of its training institutions open for more allied students.
Among the 33 who graduated, five were from allied countries. Malawi had one, while Tanzania and Zambia had two each.
The graduation ceremony was historic as it was the first graduation at the school since the inauguration of President Mnangagwa in November 2017 as the President and Commander-in-chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
It was also Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri’s first time to preside over a graduation ceremony in her current capacity.
Online Reporter