Uphold constitution and national unity, urges ZNA commander

COMMANDER of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe, has called upon military personnel to uphold the constitution, underlining the critical importance of fostering a peaceful environment to achieve national objectives.

Lieutenant-General Sanyatwe made the remarks while addressing soldiers and invited guests during the recent change of command ceremony at the Five Infantry Brigade in Battlefields, near Kwekwe.

The ceremony marked the handover of command from Brigadier-General Mpuleang Siziba to Brigadier-General Lawrence Munzararikwa. Brigadier General Siziba has been reassigned as the Director-General of Joint Operations and Plans at the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Headquarters in Harare.

“The people of Zimbabwe harbour high hopes and expectations for a better future. Accordingly, as the Zimbabwe National Army, we should discharge our constitutional mandate to ensure a conducive and tranquil environment prevails for the attainment of national programmes,” he said.

Lieutenant-General Sanyatwe expressed commitment that the army will fulfil its constitutional duty to protect the country’s territorial integrity from both internal and external threats.

He also underscored the necessity for military personnel to align their efforts with the national development agenda, particularly the Vision 2030 goal of achieving an upper-middle-income economy.
“We should all therefore understand the vision enunciated by the President and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in its entirety to contribute meaningfully to the attainment of an upper-middle-income economy status of our motherland. The Zimbabwe National Army is mandated to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity from the country’s detractors,” said Lieutenant-General Sanyatwe.

Brigadier-General Siziba, reflecting on his tenure, said it was an honour to serve at the Five Infantry Brigade and that he was prepared for his new role.

“As a formation, we carried out operations against illegal gold panning and machete-wielding gangs to support the ZRP. Relatedly, we currently have security forces deployed in Gokwe to curb the smuggling of goods outside the country. Together with my colleagues from JOC, we have managed to address the various security challenges,” he said.

Brigadier-General Munzararikwa pledged to build on his predecessor’s efforts and ensure the brigade remained effective in executing its duties.

“I will ensure that the troops I am leading here reach their full potential. I am cognisant of the responsibilities that come with the task at hand. The province requires us to deal with illegal mining, smuggling and all sorts of vices. I assure you that I will endeavour to keep everything under command in good order,” he said.