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Columbus Mabika-Herald Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) is fully in support of Government’s policy of Education 5.0 which is a catalyst for the attainment of an Upper Middle-Income economy through mechanisation and modernisation by year 2030, the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, has said.
Speaking during the graduation of students with Diplomas in Defence and Security Studies at the Zimbabwe Staff College (ZSC) in Harare yesterday, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the ZDF is seized with mechanisation and modernisation which Education 5.0 brings for the realisation of national visions and interest.
The Diploma was done in conjunction with the University of Zimbabwe and Chinhoyi University of Science and Technology, to which ZSC is an affiliate.
“I, therefore, challenge College authorities to ensure that the training curriculum is aligned to the Government Policy of Education 5.0, which calls for innovation and industrialisation. Education 5.0 is also a catalyst for the attainment of the President’s vision of attaining an Upper Middle- Income economy by 2030,” Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
“The Zimbabwe Defence Forces is also seized with the mechanisation and modernisation which the policy brings so that it remains a formidable force that is capable of defending Zimbabwe’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Institutions of higher learning, she said, should ensure their curriculum is aligned to the policy.
“It is the President’s vision that our graduands should drive the national agenda of modernisation and mechanisation. You also have to bear in mind that the world is ever-changing and you need to embrace technology as it comes with innovation and modernisation.”
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Government and the region at large is deeply concerned about the security situation in Mozambique and it has become a SADC collective issue.
“The SADC region is currently seized with the security situation in Mozambique where troops from member states are deployed to deal with the threat of terrorism in that country. Our Government is deeply concerned about the security situation in Mozambique. You are aware that Mozambique is our gateway to the sea, therefore any form of attack on our neighbour has a direct impact on us. There is a need for collective effort in the region to deal with this emerging threat through our SADC Protocol on Defence and Security,” she said.
The Government, the Minister said, remains committed to supporting training and human capital development in the academic arena.
University of Zimbabwe Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Chipo Dyanda said ZDF’s collaboration with institutions of higher learning is bearing fruit.
“This is what has been done at the University of Zimbabwe in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Staff College. As we witness this milestone achievement by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, allow me to extend my profound appreciation for the collaboration that we have witnessed between our two institutions over the years,” Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
The University of Zimbabwe, she said, remains informed by the Strategic Plan 2019-2025 which guides the University’s community and partners on a transformative pathway to the delivery of goods and services towards innovation and industrialisation of Zimbabwe.
Commandant ZSC, Brigadier General Joe Muzvidziwa, said Government’s commitment to training activities gives courage to staff development programmes that impact positively on the capabilities to meet national security challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
Online Reporter