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Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Army is concerned about the decreasing number of women who are enrolling for specialised training courses.
Speaking during the graduation of 254 officers in a combined parade of five mainstreams courses at the Zimbabwe School of Infantry last week, ZNA Chief of Staff General Staff Major General Trust Mugoba said it was not pleasing to see the number of women doing such courses going down.
“It is not pleasing to note that the number of female students has decreased as compared to the last intake. This is against the Zimbabwe National Army policy which endeavours to provide equal opportunities for all its members regardless of gender.
“The ladies` attendance of the courses as reflected on the current graduating courses is lower than expectations.
“I urge the careers department to nominate more female candidates in future. It is important to note that it is through good training accompanied by hard work and determination that the ladies will be empowered to compete with their male counterparts on an equal footing in whatever military activities that they may be assigned to do,” he said.
He said the studies done focused on producing effective and hardworking drill and tactics instructors.
From the parade, 248 were members from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, four from the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) and two from the Tanzania People’s Defence Force. Only 16 were female students.
“I am convinced that the graduands have acquired the knowledge and skills to effectively assist in the command and administration of infantry platoons, conduct and supervise ceremonial parades, train and supervise squad drills and small arms within infantry platoons. To achieve this you covered a number of subjects which include methods of instruction, equipment and personnel management, drill theory, arms and foot drill, range work, conventional warfare, low intensity operations among other subjects.
“It is my hope that the impact of your training will be felt immediately in your units. I encourage you to carry these responsibilities with pride. You have earned the honour of going through the training programme due to hard work and determination,” he said.
Maj Gen Mugoba said those who graduated exhibited a very high standard of discipline throughout the course since the Zimbabwe School of Infantry has zero tolerance to indiscipline. He said discipline was the cornerstone of ZNA.
“The Zimbabwe National Army requires members who are well trained, disciplined, dedicated to duty and who are prepared to put their faith in allegiance to their country’s constitution as well as their own unit, fellow soldiers and the organisation at large. It is through these attributes that the force has succeeded in all its operational undertakings since its inception,” he added.
Maj Gen Mugoba said the allied friends from the Namibian Defence Forces (NDF) and Tanzanian People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) have equally benefited from the courses.
As a contribution to the fulfillment of the right to education the ZNA built its first Secondary School in Matabeleland South at Mbalabala Barracks and so far the first three class room blocks have been roofed.
The School has since received a donation of 10 desktop computers from the University of Zimbabwe through the ZNA Schools Welfare Trust.
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