Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) must never lose sight of their role in the country’s industrialisation and modernisation agenda, as peace is costly to maintain if it is unproductive.
Speaking during the Ministry of Defence’s 2026 Strategic Review and 2027 Annual Planning Workshop, which is being held at a Bulawayo hotel today (Friday), Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said modern defence forces were industrial powerhouses that manufacture, innovate and develop dual-use technologies that benefit the civilian economy.
The minister was represented by her deputy, Brigadier-General (Retired) Levy Mayihlome.
“This is the paradigm shift I anticipate from this workshop, transformation will not be realised from the same thinking. We need transition from the bureaucratic Ministry to the strategic and delivery focused Ministry,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.
She said that, in line with the Ministry’s National Development Strategy 2 priority actions towards enhanced inclusive service delivery, the ZDF supported civil authorities and worked with other security agencies to combat socio-economic malpractices.
These include drug trafficking, corruption, unlawful border entry and smuggling.
“In so doing the Ministry remains a vital cog in the socio- economic development of the country,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.
The minister also expressed satisfaction with the progress made in clearing landmines planted by the Rhodesian regime along the country’s borders with Mozambique and Zambia.
She said landmines and other explosive remnants of the liberation war continued to endanger human lives while preventing affected communities from fully utilising their land for economic activities.
“The Ministry, through the National Mine Clearance Unit, has made tremendous headway in clearing the remaining contaminated areas with 97 percent of the original mine infested area having being cleared to date,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.
She paid tribute to international partners supporting the mine-clearance programme, including the United Nations Development Fund, Norwegian People’s Aid, the Hazardous Area Life Support Organisation Trust and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG).
“I am also happy that some of the strategic priorities that emerged from this workshop relate to the capacitation of the National Clearance Unit and resource mobilisation to accelerate completion of mine clearance before the new 2030 deadline,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.
