Zvamaida Murwira

Senior Reporter

MILITARY service will always come first over one’s personal interests, because a soldier must be ready to defend the country’s territorial integrity and hard-won independence, President Mnangagwa has said.

The President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, made the remarks yesterday while delivering a keynote address at the graduation of 105 officer cadets from the Zimbabwe Military Academy in Gweru, Midlands Province.

He implored the newly-commissioned officers to uphold the spirit of Pan-African solidarity to ensure peace and stability on the continent.

“May I remind you that military service demands that duty always comes first, before personal interests. The cadet training has armed you with the necessary basic tactical, administrative knowledge and skills to enable you to seamlessly integrate within the ZDF,” he said.

“You are no longer civilians, welcome to a life of sacrifice and service. The boldness, bravery, resilience and endurance you have demonstrated so far, during the 21 months of training, should motivate you in the path ahead.

“Here at this premier military training institution, a strong foundation has been laid for your ensuing careers. Go forth, thrive and be counted among those who wholeheartedly serve our country, in your generation.”

President Mnangagwa told the new graduates to reject drugs, which he said have become a national security concern.

“Drugs and harmful substances must never find a foothold within our military establishment,” he said.

President Mnangagwa commended the ZMA for producing high-grade military cadet officers as well as cultivating a good relationship with its community.

“The strength of any defence force lies not only in its weapons, but in its relationship with the people it serves.

“In this spirit, the course on Civil Military Relations should continue to nurture a military culture anchored on patriotism and selfless sacrifice for the people of our great motherland, Zimbabwe.

“The saying that ‘we are like fish and the people our water’, remains our longstanding mantra that emphasises the intricate relationship between the defence forces and the people.

“These liberation war-time values should be deliberately preserved as guiding traditions for the benefit of future generations.”

President Mnangagwa said it was important for graduates in particular and other Zimbabweans in general to have knowledge about the country’s history, and the journey travelled to attain independence under the yoke of Ian Smith regime.

The President commended the ZMA for promoting military diplomacy through the training of officers from the Sadc region.  “It is commendable that the Zimbabwe Military Academy is playing a vital training role in support of military diplomacy.

“The total of 20 allied students, drawn from SADC countries, currently undergoing cadet training at this Academy, reflects my Government’s determination to contribute to the quest for finding lasting peace, security and stability,” he said.

In the contemporary world, said President Mnangagwa, military leadership demands the appropriate intellectual aptitude, technological proficiency and ethical discernment.

“Undoubtedly, academic studies help fortify the ability of our officers to lead with wisdom, serve with integrity and to strategise with foresight,” said President Mnangagwa.

He told the graduates that the wide range of subjects they covered during training formed a solid foundation upon which they must build their careers and deepen their understanding of the always evolving military domain.

“Subjects relating to Command and Leadership, Conventional Warfare, Low Intensity Operations, Administration and Military Law, remain crucial to the development of competent military officers.

“You have been equipped with requisite tactical, regimental and administrative knowledge as well as the necessary expertise to serve with uttermost professionalism, within the Zimbabwe Defence Forces,” said the President.

He then commended the partnership between Midlands State University and the Zimbabwe Military Academy in training officer cadets, saying it would go a long way in instilling skills and discipline on the soldiers to save their country with professionalism.

“I extend my gratitude to Midlands State University for providing academic guidance to the Academy by offering the diploma programme. Synergies of this kind assure us that graduating officer cadets from this institution march into service carrying the sword and the book, over and above the discipline, patriotism and loyalty of a soldier.

“With these multi-pronged skills, the officers are well positioned to safeguard the sovereignty of Zimbabwe and help advance the development of our nation,” said President Mnangagwa.

He urged the ZMA to tap into the MSU’s vast areas of expertise to advance professional development as well as innovation and ingenuity.

However, the Commander-in-Chief challenged the ZMA to look into the circumstances surrounding the high drop-out of regular officer cadet trainees, which saw the number falling from an initial 170 to 105, who completed the course.

“I challenge ZMA to reflect on the surrounding factors that contributed to a remarkably higher number of drop-outs and others failing to meet the requirements of the course,” said President Mnangagwa.

“A total of 105 of the cadets were enrolled and met the expected training standards. I particularly applaud the 20 female officer cadets for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their male cadets and attained this milestone.”

The President advised the graduates to be patriotic and ideologically grounded throughout their careers.

“As you embark on your careers in your respective formations, bases and units, mindful of the weighty expectations resting upon your shoulders, uphold the highest standards of patriotism, loyalty, professionalism, discipline and integrity,” said President Mnangagwa.

Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube, service chiefs and other senior Government officials attended the event.

The post Duty comes first: President appeared first on herald.

The post Duty comes first: President appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Zvamaida Murwira

Senior Reporter

MILITARY service will always come first over one’s personal interests, because a soldier must be ready to defend the country’s territorial integrity and hard-won independence, President Mnangagwa has said.

The President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, made the remarks yesterday while delivering a keynote address at the graduation of 105 officer cadets from the Zimbabwe Military Academy in Gweru, Midlands Province.

He implored the newly-commissioned officers to uphold the spirit of Pan-African solidarity to ensure peace and stability on the continent.

“May I remind you that military service demands that duty always comes first, before personal interests. The cadet training has armed you with the necessary basic tactical, administrative knowledge and skills to enable you to seamlessly integrate within the ZDF,” he said.

“You are no longer civilians, welcome to a life of sacrifice and service. The boldness, bravery, resilience and endurance you have demonstrated so far, during the 21 months of training, should motivate you in the path ahead.

“Here at this premier military training institution, a strong foundation has been laid for your ensuing careers. Go forth, thrive and be counted among those who wholeheartedly serve our country, in your generation.”

President Mnangagwa told the new graduates to reject drugs, which he said have become a national security concern.

“Drugs and harmful substances must never find a foothold within our military establishment,” he said.

President Mnangagwa commended the ZMA for producing high-grade military cadet officers as well as cultivating a good relationship with its community.

“The strength of any defence force lies not only in its weapons, but in its relationship with the people it serves.

“In this spirit, the course on Civil Military Relations should continue to nurture a military culture anchored on patriotism and selfless sacrifice for the people of our great motherland, Zimbabwe.

“The saying that ‘we are like fish and the people our water’, remains our longstanding mantra that emphasises the intricate relationship between the defence forces and the people.

“These liberation war-time values should be deliberately preserved as guiding traditions for the benefit of future generations.”

President Mnangagwa said it was important for graduates in particular and other Zimbabweans in general to have knowledge about the country’s history, and the journey travelled to attain independence under the yoke of Ian Smith regime.

The President commended the ZMA for promoting military diplomacy through the training of officers from the Sadc region.  “It is commendable that the Zimbabwe Military Academy is playing a vital training role in support of military diplomacy.

“The total of 20 allied students, drawn from SADC countries, currently undergoing cadet training at this Academy, reflects my Government’s determination to contribute to the quest for finding lasting peace, security and stability,” he said.

In the contemporary world, said President Mnangagwa, military leadership demands the appropriate intellectual aptitude, technological proficiency and ethical discernment.

“Undoubtedly, academic studies help fortify the ability of our officers to lead with wisdom, serve with integrity and to strategise with foresight,” said President Mnangagwa.

He told the graduates that the wide range of subjects they covered during training formed a solid foundation upon which they must build their careers and deepen their understanding of the always evolving military domain.

“Subjects relating to Command and Leadership, Conventional Warfare, Low Intensity Operations, Administration and Military Law, remain crucial to the development of competent military officers.

“You have been equipped with requisite tactical, regimental and administrative knowledge as well as the necessary expertise to serve with uttermost professionalism, within the Zimbabwe Defence Forces,” said the President.

He then commended the partnership between Midlands State University and the Zimbabwe Military Academy in training officer cadets, saying it would go a long way in instilling skills and discipline on the soldiers to save their country with professionalism.

“I extend my gratitude to Midlands State University for providing academic guidance to the Academy by offering the diploma programme. Synergies of this kind assure us that graduating officer cadets from this institution march into service carrying the sword and the book, over and above the discipline, patriotism and loyalty of a soldier.

“With these multi-pronged skills, the officers are well positioned to safeguard the sovereignty of Zimbabwe and help advance the development of our nation,” said President Mnangagwa.

He urged the ZMA to tap into the MSU’s vast areas of expertise to advance professional development as well as innovation and ingenuity.

However, the Commander-in-Chief challenged the ZMA to look into the circumstances surrounding the high drop-out of regular officer cadet trainees, which saw the number falling from an initial 170 to 105, who completed the course.

“I challenge ZMA to reflect on the surrounding factors that contributed to a remarkably higher number of drop-outs and others failing to meet the requirements of the course,” said President Mnangagwa.

“A total of 105 of the cadets were enrolled and met the expected training standards. I particularly applaud the 20 female officer cadets for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with their male cadets and attained this milestone.”

The President advised the graduates to be patriotic and ideologically grounded throughout their careers.

“As you embark on your careers in your respective formations, bases and units, mindful of the weighty expectations resting upon your shoulders, uphold the highest standards of patriotism, loyalty, professionalism, discipline and integrity,” said President Mnangagwa.

Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube, service chiefs and other senior Government officials attended the event.

The post Duty comes first: President appeared first on herald.

The post Duty comes first: President appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.