Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
ZIMBABWE National Army (ZNA) Commander, Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Matatu, has urged newly-graduated soldiers to uphold the highest standards of discipline, loyalty, and patriotism, describing military service as a selfless national calling that transcends ordinary employment.
Addressing 489 recruits — including 126 women — at the 38th pass-out parade held at Imbizo Barracks on the outskirts of Bulawayo yesterday, Lt-Gen Matatu reminded the graduates that they were now part of a professional force constitutionally mandated to defend the country and its people.
“The Zimbabwe National Army is established by the Constitution of Zimbabwe and is mandated to defend the country, its people, its territory, its interests, and the very Constitution that creates it. Service in the army, therefore, requires men and women who are patriotic, loyal, and dedicated.
“It is no ordinary 8 AM to 4.30PM job. It is a commitment. We must be prepared to make sacrifices — even the supreme sacrifice — in defence of our nation. This calls for good discipline, loyalty, patriotism, and dedicated, selfless service,” he said.
The newly graduated soldiers completed a rigorous 36-week training programme covering infantry weapons handling, field-craft, minor tactics, military law, civil-military relations, and more. Lt-Gen Matatu emphasised that the aim was to mould “men from boys and women from girls” — individuals ready to endure battlefield conditions and defend national sovereignty.
Beyond discipline, the Commander praised the ZNA’s continued commitment to gender inclusivity and equal provincial representation in recruitment, in line with the national devolution agenda and Southern African Development Community (SADC) protocols. He noted that the recruitment strategy is designed to ensure a truly national army, where no province is left behind, in line with President Mnangagwa’s directive and the commitment to building a representative defence force.
However, Lt-Gen Matatu also issued a stern warning, underscoring that the ZNA maintains a zero-tolerance policy on indiscipline. He cautioned recruits against engaging in drug and substance abuse, theft, robbery, illegal mining, extortion, and absenteeism. He warned that any deviation from expected standards would be met with the full force of the law, as outlined in the Defence Act and other relevant statutes.
“We want men and women capable of withstanding the heat of battle and defeating the enemy — this is the basic requirement for every soldier upon completing recruit training,” he said.
Shifting focus to modern threats, Lt-Gen Matatu advised the recruits to remain vigilant against disinformation, particularly from misleading social media platforms aimed at destabilising the security forces and misleading the public.
“As you join your units, you have a clearly defined hierarchy of command — from section commanders to formation commanders — from whom you should seek advice and guidance whenever you are bombarded with subversive messages through social media,” he said.
Finally, the Commander reminded the soldiers that they are now custodians of a legacy of excellence left by generations of ZNA personnel who played key roles in maintaining peace and supporting civil authorities.
“You must uphold this legacy and pass it on to those who will come after you. The training you have received here is not the end — you will continue training in your units to reinforce what you have learnt here and to acquire more advanced techniques,” said Lt-Gen Matatu.
The event was attended by several senior and general army commanders, traditional leaders, relatives of the graduates, and members of surrounding communities.
Bongani Ndlovu