Safeguard country’s sovereignty, soldiers challenged

Officiating at the platoon tactics course’s pass-out parade at 4 Infantry Brigade headquarters in Masvingo on Thursday, Colonel Christopher Rufu Mayoyo challenged members of the army to use the skills they get from training programmes to safeguard the country’s sovereignty.

 

“The subject you did forms the basis of the need by all members of the ZNA to jealously safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of our nation. By so doing our hard won independence can be guaranteed,” said Col Mayoyo.

“It is my hope that the knowledge gained from the training will be imparted to your troops back to your various units.”

Col Mayoyo, who is also director (army electrics and mechanical engineering), underscored the need for officers to maintain a high level of discipline, adding that senior non-commissioned officers were the custodians of discipline in the organisation.

“I am informed that two members were returned to their units on discipline and medical grounds. The military, like any other profession, does not accept any kind of indiscipline simply because discipline is the cornerstone of the military profession,” he said.

“You are the custodians of discipline in our organisation, I therefore encourage you to develop the culture of discipline that you exhibited throughout the duration of the course,” he said.

The pass-out parade saw 59 out of 61 candidates that include five females receiving certificates after completing an 18-week course. Two participants dropped out on indiscipline and medical grounds.

The course, which comprised members drawn from different units, saw three outstanding trainees being awarded prizes and certificates of merit.

The best student was Sergeant Rodgers Mangwana from 4.2 Infantry Battalion while first and second runner up were Sergeant Tinashe Manyanga from army headquarters and Sergeant Munyaradzi Muganhu of 4.1 Infantry Battalion.

The curriculum covered civil military relations, voice procedure, roles, low intensity operations, map reading, conventional warfare and organisation of corps.