adminWhinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces will not tolerate indiscipline within its ranks as that could create a bunch of thugs, the Commander of Bulawayo District Colonel Rantham Moyo has said.
He was speaking yesterday during a graduation ceremony of 150 members of the armed forces at 1 Infantry Brigade’s School of Military Police (SMP) in Bulawayo.
Those graduating were drawn from the Zimbabwe National Army, the Air Force of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services and the Zimbabwe Republic Police while eight others were from the Namibia Defence Forces Military Police.
“The Zimbabwe Defence Force has no room for indiscipline otherwise it would turn out to be a bunch of armed rebels and thugs. After going through all the courses, it’s now your duty to ensure that commanders worry more about operational planning than about the discipline of their men through a professional and effective way in the discharge of your mandate,” he said.
“Let me quickly remind you that the easiest way to correct discipline of your fellow servicemen and women is by exhibiting a good example yourself. That’s why the military police motto says ‘By example we lead.’”
Col Moyo said for the first time in history they had incorporated a provost warders’ course as part of their training.
He said this was after it was realised that there was a need for warders to be up to date with today’s rehabilitation and correctional methods for service men and women who find themselves sentenced to detention barracks for committing different offences.
“When a fellow member commits an offence resulting in them being detained, they still remain one of our own, therefore, necessitating a thorough and comprehensive rehabilitation programme to be done on him for smooth reintegration with fellow members thereafter,” he said.
derick.khumalo