Security forces ready to deal with global threats

Columbus Mabika and Mutsawashe Mashandure

The Zimbabwe Defence Forces and sister security forces remain placed to deal with the global and regional security issues that continue to demand critical thinking, creativity, strategic and innovative minds, Minister of Defence Oppah Muchinguri told a Staff College graduation ceremony yesterday.

The graduation at the Staff College was for the last 20 years held in conjuction with the University of Zimbabwe with yesterday’s graduation being the first one following the new affiliation to the Zimbabwe National Defence University (ZNDU) last year following operationalisation of Article 39 of Statutory Instrument 38 of 2017 which formulated the university.

In a speech read on her behalf by Deputy Minister Brigadier General Retired Levi Mayihlome during the graduation for the Diploma in Defence and Security Studies at Zimbabwe Staff College yesterday, she said the ZDF will continue to invest in manpower development in order to meet the demands of contemporary times.

“Our forces and sister security forces remain positioned to deal with the global and regional security challenges that continue to demand not only critical thinking but creativity, strategic and innovative minds,” she said.

“I therefore challenge the National Defence University authorities to ensure that the training curriculum is aligned to the Government policy of Education 5.0, which calls for innovation and industrialisation. The curriculum should also prepare officers to respond adequately to the contemporary security challenges affecting our region and the African continent at large.”

The course was meant to produce officers with the ability to think strategically and to demonstrate a clear comprehension of state and human security challenges bedevilling SADC, Africa and the world at large.

“The course equips you with the knowledge base and professional skills that enable you to think and analyse current and future security dynamics. You were grounded to deal with the challenges of natural and societal calamities such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and drug and substance abuse,” he said.

Zimbabwe has declared war on drugs and substance abuse, which has become a serious threat to national security. The Government  set up a National Committee on Elimination of Drugs and Substance Abuse, whose mandate is to coordinate the fight against this societal menace.

Vice Chancellor ZNDU, Air Vice Marshal Tedzani Moyo said the graduation was evidence of a new and mutually beneficial partnership between the ZNDU and the Staff College.

“It is therefore with great pleasure and honour that I present diplomas to graduates of the Diploma in Defence and Security Studies for the first time in my capacity as the Vice Chancellor and Commandant of the Zimbabwe National Defence University, and warmly welcome these graduates to the ZNDU academic community. Today’s graduation therefore marks an important milestone for the ZNDU in its transformation trajectory which seeks to establish a solid education foundation in defence and security studies,” he said.

The solid foundation would enable the university to evolve into a leading domestic and regional institution offering quality educational programmes intended to foster continuous research and innovation in response to emerging global defence and security challenges.

Commandant ZSC Brigadier General Joel Muzvidziwa concurred the diploma focused on producing officers equipped with critical skills, knowledge and values required in the comprehension, implementation and management of defence and security issues.

“The diploma equipped students with concepts that promote the ability to think strategically and have a clear understanding of defence and security challenges defining sub regional politics, Africa and the international community. The programme is designed to produce innovative and versatile graduates capable of effectively tackling challenges bedevilling societies,” he said.