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Columbus Mabika Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) is a people’s force ready to assist communities and support Government initiatives in order to upscale national development and economic growth, Commander Zimbabwe National Army, Lieutenant-General David Sigauke said yesterday when handing over a classroom block built by army artisans.
Handing over a four-classroom block build by ZNA artisans to community at Nyavira Secondary school in Nyabira yesterday, Lt-Gen Sigauke said the ZDF will rally the nation for purposes of upholding and preserving peace and national security for the attainment of economic prosperity.
The handover came as the ZDF began its Community Assistance Week, where projects are handed over to their communities. It is also part of the ZDF peacetime mandate to foster development in the country by extending a helping hand to communities.
“The Zimbabwe Defence Forces is a people’s army ready to assist the communities as enshrined in the Constitution which is also in line with the President and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces mantra of ‘Leaving no one and no place behind’,” he said.
“Annually the ZDF Community Assistance Week, the military embarks on several projects where it assists communities in line with its Constitutional mandate to protect Zimbabwe, its people, national security as well as its territorial integrity and to uphold its Constitution.
“The construction of these classrooms blocks is in line with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces thrust during peace time of assisting the communities which is being done in all the ten provinces through building social amenities such as schools, clinics, roads and bridges, among others.”
These projects, Lt-Gen Sigauke said created synergies between ZDF and the local communities which dated back to the liberation struggle where the freedom fighters blended well with the locals premised on the fish and water concept, were the communities played a pivotal role in supporting freedom fighters with food and vital information critical for their survival and the ultimate victory in the war.
He said the efforts by the ZDF in community projects in line with the clarion call by the Second Republic of developing Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income society by 2030.
In this regard, he said communities should be free to interact with the military establishments in their localities and come up with work plans to improve their communities.
“Zimbabwe Defence Forces units and establishments are ready to assist communities throughout the country with artisans to carry out the construction works after they have mobilised the necessary building materials, with the ultimate aim of delivering essential services to the respective communities,” he said.
Turning to educational development, he said provision of quality and affordable education, he said the highest form of empowerment was knowledge as power.
Going forward, he said priority should be centred on building laboratories to equip the learners with the requisite competencies in line with the dictates of education 5.0 which is centred on the use of technology as the country seeks to develop and produce goods.
On drug and substance abuse, Lt-Gen Sigauke said the vice if left unchecked will destruct development for the future.
“Teachers together with parents should continue to play their important role in educating the youths to shun all negative societal immoralities which are detrimental to their future. Furthermore, youths should be educated to desist from abusing drugs and alcohol so that they become responsible citizens in order to take this country to greater heights” he said.
In addition to the projects, he said the ZDF medical teams will be on a free medical outreach assistance in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Child Care in several parts of the country.
Minister of State Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West Mary Mliswa-Chikoka said the ZDF remains a critical force in the development of Zimbabwe.
“The ZDF remains a critical stakeholder in the Infrastructural Development Pillar implementing projects under the National Development Strategy 1. By this, they have demonstrated a strong capacity to contribute to the national educational and health development initiatives under Vision 2030, of leaving no one and no place behind as being expounded by President Mnangagwa,” she said.
This year’s ZDF completed projects includes classroom blocks and four refurbished classroom blocks at Gurungweni Secondary School in Chikombedzi District of Masvingo Province, Mbamba Clinic in Tsholotsho District of Matabeleland North and Tongogara Clinic in Shurugwi in Midlands.
Online Reporter