Mechanised Brigade wins March, Shoot Competition

Luke Mafere : Post Reporter

HARARE-BASED Mechanised Brigade was this year’s winners of the Nyanga March and Shoot competition held in the resort district recently.It was their second successive victory after scooping the coveted prize last year.

The Nyanga March and Shoot Competition is an annual competition that is meant to evaluate the proficiency of the Zimbabwe National Army to enable it to conduct combat operations. This year’s competition was code named: ‘Exercise Tsoka’.

Addressing participants and guests at the prize giving ceremony held at Border Camp in Nyanga, Zimbabwe National Army Commander, Lieutenant-General Philip Valerio Sibanda said: “There is no better way to foster greater cohesion among members of any organisation than to encourage a mentality of competition among its people. This competition allows us to review any shortcomings among ourselves given a real war time atmosphere. Above all, it gives us a chance to immediately remedy any areas that we might be lagging behind.”

All ZNA brigades had representatives in the competition and the troops were tested on map reading, individual battle shoot, team battle shoot, First Aid, ground to air control and civil military relations among other areas. Harare-based Mechanised Brigade nicknamed ‘Garwe’ won the coveted first prize, Manicaland-based 3-Infantry Brigade nicknamed ‘Nyati Haisi Mombe’ came second, while Parachute Regiment was third in the competition.

Besides missing the first spot 3-Infantry Brigade were serious contenders scooping most of the individual platoon prizes on offer. These included the individual battle shoot, platoon kit and manning levels, map reading and close quarter battle. The prizes had monetary value of $1 000.

Lt-Gen Sibanda also took the occasion to thank the Nyanga community for their moral and financial support to All Arms Battle School which hosts the annual event.

The Nyanga March and Shoot Competition was being held for the 10th time this year since its inception.

The event was attended by traditional leaders from Nyanga, representatives from most Government departments in Nyanga as well as the ZNA leadership from Army Headquarters and all ZNA formations.