Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) and the business community in Mashonaland West, under the provincial Executive Interaction Initiative (EII), on Saturday held a fun-shoot exercise at Inkomo Barracks as part of efforts to strengthen civil-military relations.
The event, which attracted dozens of business leaders, professionals and military personnel, is one of several initiatives organised annually to promote networking, fundraising and camaraderie between the two sectors.
According to organisers, part of the proceeds from the fun-shoot will be channelled towards paying school fees for disadvantaged children across the province.
EII, which brings together the Inkomo Mechanised Brigade and business players in the province, was established to enhance cooperation through sporting and social activities. This year’s calendar also includes a golf tournament scheduled for October in Manicaland Province and a series of family fun days before year-end.
Commander Inkomo Mechanised Brigade and EII co-chairperson, Brigadier General Raban Nikisi, said the shoot was purely for recreation and networking.
“This exercise is not meant to train somebody who will end up misusing the weapon. It is basically for fun, to augment our interaction with the business community, while also giving them an appreciation of military discipline and procedures.
“For those who own firearms, it is also important to understand licensing requirements to ensure weapons remain in safe hands,” Brig-Gen Nikisi said.
Business representatives praised the initiative, saying it has demystified the role of the army while opening avenues for collaboration.
Business executive, Mr Israel Muchuchu said the programme, introduced by the ZDF Commander with the endorsement of President Mnangagwa, had brought immense value.
“This platform is very good for us. We are very happy because it allows us to interact directly with ZDF officers while networking with other business players,” said Brig Gen Nikisi.
Australian-based Zimbabwean and first-time participant Yolanda Munyanyi described the event as both exciting and a powerful networking opportunity.
“We were just looking for things to do and heard about this. It was a good chance to try something new at the shooting range and to network. I was very excited. I even hit the target six times, which shocked everyone since it was my first time handling a gun,” she said.
Representing the broader business community, Mr Shepherd Vhiriri highlighted that participants came from diverse professions, including medicine, law, and engineering, adding that the initiative had reshaped perceptions of the army.
“Over the past few years, we have gained a much better appreciation of the role of our army. We used to think of the military as just people waiting for war, but we now see them actively engaging in communities, running initiatives that improve livelihoods,” he said.
The EII has since become a model for strengthening ties between the armed forces and communities, with Mashonaland West’s chapter among the most active in implementing social responsibility programmes.
