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Talent Chimutambgi
Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) will mark its 42nd anniversary this year. The celebrations are coming at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has receded after two years of restrictions without major activities following a spike in infections. Ahead of the ZDF commemorations, our reporter Talent Chimutambgi (TC) caught up with Commander Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Lieutenant General David Sigauke (LGS) at the ZNA Josiah Magamba Tongogara Barracks headquarters for a wide-ranging interview regarding the operations of the ZNA. Below are the excerpts of the interview.
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TC: Commander Zimbabwe National Army Lieutenant General Sir, the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has been in existence for the past 42 years, as we celebrate the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Day, may you appraise us on the current activities of the ZNA.
LGS: First and foremost, on behalf of the officers, men, and women of the Zimbabwe National Army, it is my pleasure and honour to join the nation in celebrating the 42nd Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day.
This is an important day for the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and indeed the Zimbabwe National Army since it gives us an opportunity to reflect on our past experiences, achievements, current activities, and future plans.
As we celebrate this significant event, we remain alive to the challenges facing the nation brought about by the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by our erstwhile detractors.
In view of that, the Zimbabwe National Army has heavily invested in Research and Development to reduce the impact of the sanctions on our day-to-day activities so that we continue to guarantee our constitutional mandate of protecting Zimbabwe, its people, its resources, its interests, its national security, and territorial integrity.
A peaceful environment will allow economic development to take place unhindered in line with Vision 2030 as enunciated by His Excellency, The President and Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, which has already been set in motion through National Development Strategy 1.
Let me now focus on operations:
Internally, currently, the ZNA together with other Security Services has troops deployed on Border Control Operations in order to curb illegal border crossing and smuggling of contraband which deprives the nation of the much-needed revenue for economic development.
The Zimbabwe National Army Engineers Artisans are also undertaking demining operations to reclaim land infested by landmines during the liberation struggle for productive purposes like agriculture, mining tourism, and infrastructure development.
In this regard, the ZNA has partnered with NGOs, namely; HALO Trust, Norwegian’s People Aid, APOPO, and Mine Advisory Group.
Since the start of the operation, more than 291 square kilometres have been cleared, leaving a balance of 19.4 square kilometres in a bid to attain a mine free Zimbabwe by 2025.
Regionally and internationally, the Zimbabwe National Army continues to cooperate with its partners in the SADC, AU and UN in order to promote peace and stability.
Some of the activities to enhance cooperation include bilateral security meetings, coordinated patrols, and regional military exercises.
Some of the SADC exercises which have been conducted so far are Exercises Nengosile in Zambia (2012), Exercise Highlander in Lesotho (2013), Exercise Wilwitshia which was conducted in Namibia (2013), Exercise Vale Do Keve in Angola (2014), Exercise Mahombekombe which we hosted in Zimbabwe (2015), Exercise Matumbahwe held in Tanzania (2017) as well as Exercise Umodzi which Malawi hosted in (2018).
In 2019, the ZNA was training in preparation to participate in Exercise Chomela which was to be held in Botswana in 2020, but this was postponed due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. We have, however, resumed training for Exercise Chomela since the Covid-19 pandemic has receded.
The interaction at these platforms enhances diplomacy, cohesion, and mutual understanding between Zimbabwe and other nations and usually harmonises our modus operandi when we have joint operations under Sadc collective security initiatives.
Our deployment in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) period 1998 to 2001 is a classic example where Zimbabwe deployed with Angola and Namibia in a Sadc collective effort to support a fellow Sadc member state.
Currently, the Zimbabwe National Army has officers, men, and women deployed as Observers and Staff Officers in the United Nations and African Union Peacekeeping Missions in Somalia, Mozambique, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo Sudan, and South Sudan.
On these Peacekeeping Missions, our officers, men, and women have left a signature of professionalism that makes the Zimbabwe Defence Forces envy of the region and beyond.
The ZNA also deploys both male and female officers on such missions, an indication that we recognise gender equality.
As an example, Major Winnet Zharare, one of our female officers was honoured with the United Nations Military Gender Advocate Award for 2021 for exceptional performance during her deployment in South Sudan. She was presented her accolade by the United Nations Secretary-General in New York on 24 May 2022.
The Officer was also honoured by his Excellency, The President and Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa by hosting her at State House on 13 July 2022, an event which was witnessed by the whole nation on our National Television.
Let me now draw your attention to Military Assistance to Civil Ministries and Communities.
In line with the provision of Military Assistance to Civil Ministries, the ZNA continues to support Government Ministries and authorities.
To ensure health security, during the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ZNA seconded its medical personnel to the Ministry of Health and Child Care to assist the Government in the containment efforts.
The ZNA also deployed its Military Police in support of the ZRP to enforce Covid-19 restrictive measures.
Additionally, vaccination outreach programmes are continuously being conducted by our medical staff throughout the country in support of the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
On food security, the ZNA seconded its members to National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme in support of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate, and Rural Development in line with Government efforts of boosting agricultural activities in the country.
The ZNA also assists with transport on the movement of grain to drought-stricken areas throughout the country whenever requested.
Furthermore, the ZNA equally supports the Government’s food security endeavours through crop and livestock production being undertaken at our Brigades farms.
In this respect, the ZNA has been delivering wheat and maize to the GMB thereby contributing to national food security in line with Vision 2030.
With regards to Military Assistance to Civil Communities, the ZNA has contributed to infrastructural development by undertaking several construction projects throughout the country mainly targeting disadvantaged communities.
The projects include the construction of schools’ staff houses, clinics, and repair of roads, among others.
These community assistance projects have significantly improved the livelihoods of our people throughout the country, thereby fostering cohesion and unity of purpose which is consistent with the vision of His Excellency, The President and Commander-In-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa for achieving an upper middle-income society by 2030.
Some of the completed projects in the provinces include Maternity Wards in Mberengwa, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chinhoyi peri-urban as well as Neromwe Clinic in Chiredzi which was championed by the Airforce of Zimbabwe, Mandoga Primary School Classroom Blocks in Marondera and Siphepa Primary School Classroom Blocks in Tsholotsho.
There is also Watershed Primary School Classroom Block in Bulilima, Chakadini Clinic in Mahusekwa, St Albans Primary School Classroom Block in Buhera, as well as the Rebuilding of homesteads in Goromonzi also spearheaded by the Air force of Zimbabwe, Monyoroka Primary School Classroom Blocks in Chiredzi, among others.
As a norm, among the completed projects, some will be selected as Star Projects and are to be handed over during the ZDF Community Assistance Week starting from (Monday) 1 to 7 August by the Ministry of Defence Hierarchy and ZDF Command Element.
With regards to disaster management and relief operations, the ZNA in conjunction with the Civil Protection Unit and other Government departments has been involved in search and rescue operations in perennially flood-prone areas such as Gokwe, Tsholotsho, Muzarabani areas, and Chiredzi low veld, among others.
You may recall the role that was played by the ZNA and other Government departments during the Cyclone Idai disaster in Chimanimani in 2019.
The ZNA and other Security Services were deployed in the forefront during the initial stages of the disaster. ZNA, therefore, remains alert to provide an early response to disaster occurrences throughout the country.
May you allow me to turn to training.
To fulfil its Constitutional mandate, the ZNA has continued to train its members, thereby maintaining a highly trained, well-equipped, and disciplined force that is able to guarantee peace and tranquillity in the country.
The ZNA has, therefore, continued to develop its human resource base through training in military and non-military courses.
Our training programmes are complemented by sending some officers, men and women for external training in friendly countries both regionally and internationally.
Training abroad has enabled our officers, men, and women to remain abreast with international modern military concepts and technological developments. In terms of professional non-military training, the ZNA continues to send its officers, men and women to enrol for certificates, diplomas, degrees and other higher civilian qualifications at colleges and universities.
We have also affiliated some of our military training programmes in line with Zimbabwe Council of Higher Education standards to selected tertiary institutions in a bid to develop the professional competency of our human resource base. Some of the institutions we have partnered with include the University of Zimbabwe, Chinhoyi of Technology, Midlands State, and ZNDU, among others.
Let me briefly touch on welfare.
Through the guidance of Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces, the ZNA has continued to implement measures to improve the general conditions of service of our members.
With regards to the provision of decent accommodation to our members, the ZNA is undertaking major construction works at Dzivarasekwa in Harare and Khumalo in Bulawayo. Some of the completed houses have since been occupied by our members.
Let me touch on the ZNA Research and Development thrust.
In view of the current economic challenges facing the nation, the ZNA has created a vibrant Research and Development Department.
The Department has partnered with science and technology institutions and other established local civilian companies to undertake selected projects and programmes.
The ultimate goal is to create import substitution on some of the military hardware and equipment thereby allowing the Government to commit the scarce foreign currency to other Vision 2030 priority areas.
Through Research and Development, we have successfully managed to upgrade our fighting equipment in order to create a well-equipped, robust, mobile and hard hitting force. This has become a game changer in view of the current illegal economic sanctions.
TC: Lieutenant General Sir, can you give us your vision for the Zimbabwe National Army?
LGS: Our vision as embraced by the ZDF is to build a highly trained, well-equipped, disciplined, loyal, and patriotic force capable of fulfilling its Constitutional mandate.
To achieve this Vision, the ZNA through its Research and Development thrust needs to be innovative, self-reliant, and possess the initiative to perform efficiently and effectively.
Additionally, I look forward to a highly professional ZNA with a deterrent fighting capability that guarantees the nation peace and tranquillity. In this regard, we are prepared to go the extra mile to ensure that peace continues to prevail in the country.
It should be noted that without peace, there is no development, and without development, there is no peace, hence the ZNA must create a conducive environment for development and peace as an enabler towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
TC: Sir, what are your parting words to the people of Zimbabwe?
LGS: I want to commend all Zimbabweans for standing resolutely with the ZNA and joining the force in celebrating 42 years of defending our beloved nation.
The ZNA also guarantees the nation peace and tranquillity as we defend our sovereignty protect our people, and safeguard our national interests and territorial integrity.
I thank you, tatenda, siyabonga
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