admin
Speech by the President and Commander In Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa at the occasion of the 41st Anniversary of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day.
Today the 10th of August, 2021, is of national importance for the officers, men and women of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and the entire nation as we celebrate the milestones made by our Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF). This day also marks the commemoration and celebrations for the 41st Anniversary of the formation of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
As we celebrate across various provinces and districts of our nation, the successful process of integration of the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army, the Zimbabwe Peoples’ Revolutionary Army as well as the Rhodesian Forces into the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, is a constant reminder of the centrality of conflict resolution, peace and unity in development and nation building.
The process and common purpose that led to the formation of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces is part of the greater nucleus and foundation upon which we continue to transform and robustly build this great country, Zimbabwe. Today, we enjoy our independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity due to the gallantry, reputable, professional, effective and national character of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. Our nation enjoys peace, for this, we are blessed and indeed grateful.
On my behalf, that of my family and indeed on behalf of Government and the people of our great country, I extend my warm congratulations to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for attaining 41 years of existence. I further commend you in your various individual capacities, ranks and as our national strategic institution for the unfettered contribution to the on-going process of nation building and the attainment of Vision 2030.
Since the advent of the Second Republic and consistent with the Constitution, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces is playing its part in the implementation of multi-dimensional policies with regards the speedy recovery, modernisation, industrialisation, equitable and sustainable development of our country. Going forward we must therefore consolidate the prevailing peace, leverage on the peace dividend and pull together in one direction as principled compatriots in building the Zimbabwe we all want. This is incumbent on all of us. Today’s celebrations sadly, come against the background of the passing-on, of a number of veterans of our liberation struggle and decorated military men.
These include the late serving Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, Lieutenant General Edzai Absalom Chanyuka Chimonyo; Retired Lieutenant General and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Dr S.B. Moyo; former Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service, Retired Major General Paradzai Willings Zimondi; Ambassador Retired Lieutenant General Douglas Nyikayaramba and Retired Major General Clever Shadreck Chiramba who were all interred at the sacred National Heroes Acre. May their souls rest in eternal peace. It is unfortunate and disheartening that some of these decorated military comrades succumbed to COVID-19 related complications. My Government and you, our Defence Forces will not tire to fight and combat this pandemic.
True to the principle that the military must prioritise the nation, I further applaud the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for their unwavering will power, expert contribution and resolve to our public war against Covid-19. This war demands time, commitment, patriotism and loyalty from the people’s institution -the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. You the ZDF have joined the fight against the pandemic through enforcement of lockdowns, secondment of health personnel to assist in the management of confirmed cases as well as the National Vaccination programme.
The unprecedented experiences we have gone through over the unfolding waves of Covid-19, must remind us to continue acting more responsibly by always wearing our masks properly, sanitising and practising social distancing. Notwithstanding the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ZDF has taken the opportunity to accelerate its research and development endeavours. The collaboration with various universities and research institutions in this regard is applauded.
Fellow Zimbabweans, Ladies and Gentlemen; I commend the ZDF for its corporate social responsibility, through continued utilisation of its abundant wide array of skilled personnel to contribute towards the socio-economic development of the country. This has seen various communities benefiting from the construction of bridges, schools and clinics, with some of the most recent projects being the construction of a Maternity Ward at Mberengwa District Hospital, Neromwe Clinic in Chiredzi and two classroom blocks at Charleswood Primary School in Chimanimani District, just to mention a few.
To enhance the impact of the Community Assistance Programme, the ZDF is applying the devolution concept to ensure that community assistance is aligned to provincial priorities. As we march towards our goal of achieving a Zimbabwe free of landmines by 2025, I commend the ZDF, and its cooperating demining partners, for the clearing of anti-personnel landmines. The demining entities surpassed their 2020 target where they recovered and destroyed over 35 000 anti-personnel mines and 3 anti-tank mines. This is commendable progress.
On the international scene, the ZDF has continued to contribute to international peace and stability by deploying its members on peace support operations under the auspices of the African Union and United Nations. In this regard, the ZDF has 31 officers deployed to UN missions and 6 others deployed to AU missions. In all these missions, the ZDF officers have raised the national flag high, through the professional discharge of their assigned duties, resulting in their mandates being renewed on several occasions. Makorokoto, Amhlophe, Congratulations for the job well done.
Fellow Zimbabweans, Ladies and Gentlemen; In this era of unprecedented technological advancements, knowledge of the entire spectrum of modern and future battlefields as well as an understanding of contemporary threats is vital. The world over, notable technological inventions originate from the military and the ZDF must not be left behind.
The modernisation of the national defence system and the armed forces remains on course and is being accelerated. As Commander in Chief, I recognise that a well-equipped, efficient, versatile, tactically agile and professional Defence Force is an embryo for peace, harmony, stability and development. This has far reaching positive impacts as a defence line and an antithesis to the changing security trends and threats.
My Administration will thus continue to equip the Defence Forces with reliable means and technological capacities towards defending our dignity, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as advancing our legitimate economic development interests at home and abroad. In this context, any sinister activities or clandestine machinations aimed at derailing and undermining national security will be exposed and perpetrators appropriately dealt with. We are a peaceful nation and a God fearing people who uphold the international best standards and subscribe to international peace, justice and the rule of law as anchors for a prosperous global world and shared future.
Guided by these principles, I exhort members of the Defence Forces to equally continue upholding the rich military heritage anchored on courage and absolute commitment to duty and the nation. Yours is a noble profession, you must therefore avoid association and acts that put to shame our security institutions. You are officers, men and women of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces should never be entangled in criminal activities. In the case of the ensuing security situation in Mozambique, my Government is making due considerations for the deployment of 304 defence instructors. This is in sync with the regional defence pact towards protecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our sister Republic of Mozambique. In solidarity with the People and Republic of Mozambique my Government remains alive to the need for the realisation of durable peace and stability in the Cabo Delgado Province.
Fellow Compatriots;
On the welfare side, my Government is committed to improve the conditions of service of the ZDF members. Meanwhile I challenge the ZDF administration to accelerate the completion of accommodation projects underway at Imbizo, Dzivarasekwa and Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo barracks. With regards to post retirement and career exit for the officers, men and women of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces as well as our veterans of the liberation struggle, I have since directed the Defence Service Commission and the Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Board to roll out comprehensive life and entrepreneurship capacitation programmes as part of the integration continuum into civilian life.
In addition, more robust mechanisms must be deployed towards carrying out broad based, sustainable and consistent socio-economic profiling of our combatants, men and women of the Defence Forces with regards to preparing them for the ever-changing world. On its part, Government will continue to augment such activities by making the requisite interventions to secure the livelihoods of members of the Defence Forces. For the achievement of this goal, I challenge stakeholders to shift their paradigms towards ensuring success and sustainability of the various broad empowerment and entrepreneurship programmes my Government recently launched.
Informed by the development principle of leaving no one and no place behind, the ongoing broad based empowerment interventions must also embrace children and spouses of members of our security establishments.
This is more important given that the new philosophy of production, productivity and profitability must allow all our citizenry to play their part in broad based empowerment and wealth creation. This will in-turn contribute to the realisation of the aspirations outlined in the National Development Strategy-1 and Vision 2030.
Fellow Zimbabweans, Ladies and Gentlemen; The military-civilian collaborative culture is key and dates back to the liberation struggle. I challenge the nation to deepen and consolidate this relationship with our security forces towards the effective enforcement of our laws, in peace and unity. This in itself remains a key ingredient for sustainable national unity, peace and social cohesion.
Finally, let me express my profound gratitude to all those at home and abroad who have joined our Zimbabwe Defence Forces in celebrating the 41st Anniversary of this national strategic institution.
Once again thank you to the officers, men and women of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for your unflinching patriotism, loyalty and resilience. I also congratulate those who received awards during this period when we are remembering the gallant heroes and heroines of our nation.
I commend you for your steadfastness in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and prioritising all facets of national security and development. As we progress in to the last quarter of the year 2021, let us continue to remain calm and peaceful, with greater focus and energy being invested in all sectors of our economy.
To the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, I say Congratulations, Makorokoto, Amhlophe for attaining 41 years. The foot-prints of the Force’s existence is characterised by the upholding and promotion of the National Constitution, cross cutting great successes and remarkable achievements. The entire nation prides itself in you and cherishes your utmost defence and promotion of our dignity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Happy Forty First Defence Forces Day Anniversary!
God bless you all.
God bless Zimbabwe.
I thank you.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter