Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo-Zimpapers Reporter
THE Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Matatu, has called on newly graduated soldiers to uphold the highest standards of discipline, loyalty and patriotism, describing military service as a selfless national calling that goes beyond ordinary employment.
Addressing 489 recruits — including 126 women — at the 38th pass-out parade held at Mbizo 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 created 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,” he said.
“It is no ordinary 8am to 4.30pm job. It is a commitment, we should be prepared to make sacrifices, even the supreme sacrifice in defence of our nation and therefore, this calls for good discipline, loyalty, patriotism and dedicated selfless service.”
The newly minted soldiers completed a rigorous 36-week training programme encompassing infantry weapons handling, field craft, minor tactics, military law, civil-military relations and more. Lt-Gen Matatu stressed that the aim was to mould “men from boys and women from girls”, individuals ready to endure battlefield conditions and defend national sovereignty.
Lt Gen Matatu lauded the ZNA’s continued commitment to gender inclusivity and equal provincial representation in recruitment in line with the national devolution agenda and protocols under the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
He said their recruitment strategy is designed to ensure a truly national army where no province must be left behind in line with President Mnangagwa’s directive and the commitment to building a representative defence force.
Lt Gen warned that the ZNA maintains a zero-tolerance stance on indiscipline, cautioning recruits against acts such as drug and substance abuse, theft, robbery, illegal mining, extortion and absenteeism.
“You have taken your oath of allegiance before me on this parade to uphold the Constitution of Zimbabwe and abide by the rules, regulations and attendant statutes that govern the Zimbabwe Defence Forces,” he said.
“The code of conduct given to you should be the guiding beacon of your conduct throughout your career. Let me remind you that the army is a disciplined force which does not tolerate cases of indiscipline within its ranks.”
Lt Gen Matatu warned that any deviation from expected standards will be met with the full wrath of the law, as outlined in the Defence Act and other statutes.
“We want men and women capable of withstanding the heat of battle and defeating the enemy, which is the basic requirement for every soldier when they pass out of recruit training,” he said.
Lt-Gen Matatu also advised recruits to remain vigilant against disinformation, especially from misleading social media platforms aiming to destabilise the security forces and mislead the public.
“As you join your units, you have a clearly defined hierarchy of command, starting from section commanders to formation commanders from whom you should seek advice and guidance whenever you are bombarded with such subversive messages through social media,” he said.
The army chief reminded the soldiers that they were 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 remind you of what you learnt here and also get more advanced techniques,” said Lt Gen Matatu.
The pass-out parade was attended by senior army officials, traditional leaders, families of the graduates and members of nearby communities.
