Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) must move beyond their traditional security mandate and become active drivers of industrialisation, technological innovation and economic modernisation,
Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has said.
In a speech read on her behalf by Deputy Minister of Defence, Brigadier-General (Retired) Levi
Mayihlome at the Ministry of Defence’s 2026 strategic review and 2027 annual planning workshop in Bulawayo yesterday, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said a productive defence sector could strengthen the civilian economy through manufacturing, innovation and the development of technologies with both military and commercial applications.
She said peace must deliver tangible economic benefits to justify the resources invested in maintaining it.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri challenged the ministry to abandon bureaucratic approaches in favour of a results-driven model that positions the defence sector as a strategic partner in Zimbabwe’s development agenda.
“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,” she said.
The minister said modern defence forces were not merely instruments of national security but also potential industrial powerhouses capable of supporting manufacturing, technological advancement and broader economic growth.
The call aligns with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritises economic transformation, enhanced service delivery and inclusive development.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the ZDF already contributed to national development by supporting civil authorities, assisting in disaster response and working with other security agencies to combat drug trafficking, corruption, illegal border entry and smuggling.
“In so doing, the ministry remains a vital cog in the socio-economic development of the country,” she said.
Beyond these interventions, the ministry is seeking to strengthen disaster risk management by enhancing the ZDF’s preparedness and response mechanisms, a priority under NDS2.
The minister also highlighted progress in clearing landmines planted by the Rhodesian regime along Zimbabwe’s borders with Mozambique and Zambia, saying the explosives continued to threaten lives and restrict communities’ productive use of affected land.
Through the National Mine Clearance Unit, the country has cleared 97 percent of the original mine-contaminated area, marking significant progress towards making the affected communities safer and unlocking land for productive use.
“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.
She credited international partners, including the United Nations Development Programme, Norwegian People’s Aid, the Hazardous Area Life Support Organisation Trust and the Mines Advisory Group, for supporting the mine-clearance programme.
The workshop is expected to help the ministry assess its 2026 performance, identify implementation gaps and align its 2027 priorities with national development targets.
Speaking at the same event, Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube, represented by the director of coordination in her office, Mrs Boetsoarelo Noko, said strategic planning was essential to translating Government policy into measurable improvements in people’s lives.
She said national development depended on a secure and orderly environment, adding that even well-designed policies could not succeed where instability undermined implementation.
“These are not ceremonial gatherings. They are the discipline mechanism through which Government turns policy into performance, guided by the National Development Strategy 2, as we accelerate economic development and build a prosperous and empowered African society,” said Minister Ncube.
She said the review should go beyond producing planning documents to ensure that directorates, departments and officers were accountable for achieving agreed targets and that resources were channelled towards practical results.
“The value of strategic planning lies not in the document we produce, but in the clarity it creates, which aligns every directorate, every service and every officer to a common purpose. It streams resources to results,” said Minister Ncube.
She said the Ministry of Defence played a crucial role in safeguarding Zimbabwe’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, responding to disasters and emergencies and contributing to regional and international peace and security.
The minister said peace should be measured not only by the absence of conflict but also by public confidence in institutions, stability in communities and the prospect of a better future.
“Peace in its fullest sense is the presence of trust between citizens and institutions, of order in our streets and communities, and of a shared belief that tomorrow will be better,” she said.
Minister Ncube said these conditions were essential for attracting investment, implementing development programmes and sustaining economic progress.
