Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Harare Bureau
SADC and Africa at large should intensify multi-faceted strategies to “silence the guns” on the continent, President Mnangagwa said yesterday.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the Joint Command and Staff Course Number 37 in Harare, the President, who also serves as the SADC Chairman, highlighted that the exorbitant cost of war and conflict deprives African citizens of essential development and prosperity.
The broader security environment in the region is characterised by armed conflicts, terrorism, and the proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons. This, President Mnangagwa stated, must be decisively addressed.
“The SADC Mutual Defence Pact as well as the United Nations Charter enjoin States to pursue the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means. We have a duty to do so in a manner that regional and international peace, security, and justice are enhanced,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) said.
President Mnangagwa highlighted the weighty duty and obligation of members of the defence forces of Zimbabwe, SADC, and Africa to continually enhance their capacity to prevent the subversion of respective and collective constitutional orders and national sovereignties.
“Our mantra, ‘African solutions to African problems,’ must remain true for posterity. A country is built and must be defended by its own people. The responsibility to proffer and implement solutions to propel the peace, security, development, modernisation, and prosperity of our country, the SADC region, and the African continent lies with all of us, including you in our defence and security sector. This duty and weighty obligation should never be taken for granted,” he said.
The security and defence infrastructure of African countries, the President noted, remains critical as it was during their respective liberation struggles.
“This graduation ceremony is occurring against a backdrop when our region and the continent are re-examining approaches to peace and security in Africa. In the past, the security and defence infrastructure were central cogs in the liberation struggles against colonial and racist regimes. Today, this strategic sector is of fundamental importance in maintaining national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is equally integral in advancing sustainable economic and social development, not only in our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe, but within the SADC region and the African continent as a whole,” he said.
The SADC Chairman stressed the importance of keeping imperialist forces at bay. As such, defence and security training, skills, and manpower development that address the challenges of the contemporary and diverse security environment are needed.
“There is an increase in organised, transnational crime; drug trafficking; money laundering; and human trafficking. The growing frequency of climate change-induced natural disasters remains a core concern. Meanwhile, technological advancements have resulted in greater discoveries of additional rich natural resources within our country and on the continent. Regrettably, this has entailed greater interests from those who would want to rob us of our God-given wealth by seeking to manipulate, coerce, infiltrate, and even overthrow our governments.
Additionally, there are various forms of asymmetrical warfare, undue interference in the internal affairs of our countries, and monopolisation and manipulation of the global media space,” he said.
Turning to the graduation ceremony, which saw 71 officers drawn from the ZDF, SADC, Regional, and International Allied Defence Forces graduating, he expressed pleasure at the continued fostering of relations in the sub-region.
Botswana had one officer, Eswatini (1), Tanzania (2), Lesotho (1), South Africa (3), Namibia (2), Kenya (1), Nigeria (1), Zambia (1), and Malawi (1) graduating. Fourteen percent of the graduates were female.
“Such wide enrolment and interaction promote solidarity and facilitate the cross-pollination of ideas and experiences. The student representation from East Africa is, thus, a welcome development. As you are aware, seamless defence and security infrastructure go a long way towards ending conflict on the African continent.
“I applaud the fact that this graduating class had the occasion to embark on external study tours to Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Tanzania, and Uganda as part of their geopolitical studies. This is also consistent with the principles of regional integration, solidarity, and co-operation. I hope that the lessons from the tours broadened the students’ appreciation of the key drivers of regional security and statecraft. May I thank the various host governments for their kind support and facilitation that made these excursions a resounding success,” said President Mnangagwa.
Zimbabwe Staff College’s participation in the Combined Joint African Exercise Uhuru, along with colleges from Angola, Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, and Zambia in September for the seventh year running, reflects the nation’s commitment to playing its part in consolidating and sharpening the requisite skills to plan and conduct peace support operations.
President Mnangagwa then directed the Staff College and other defence and security institutions within the country to diversify the various content of their programmes.
“To this end, due attention must be given to equipping officers with the essential know-how to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes through negotiation, conciliation, mediation, or arbitration, for the benefit of our peoples. Further, in view of the growing negative impact of climate change, it is critically important that the relevant members of our defence forces constantly enhance capabilities around disaster management.
“The efficient and timely coordination of both internal and regional humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of natural disasters should also be improved. The Zimbabwe Defence Forces is, thus, exhorted to approach manpower development gaps, training, and skills programmes from a whole new paradigm.”
President Mnangagwa went on to commend the ZDF and express gratitude to China for assistance rendered.
“Allow me to thank the People’s Republic of China for their continued support to Zimbabwe in general and to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces in particular, through the secondment of military instructors to the Zimbabwe Staff College and the Zimbabwe National Defence University. The Ministry of Defence, the Commander Defence Forces, and the Service Commanders are congratulated for persistently and consistently responding to the manpower development needs of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
“By the same token, gratitude is extended to Members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Zimbabwe, speakers from academia, Government, civic society, industry, and commerce, who tirelessly contributed towards the success of the Joint Command and Staff Course 37, which is graduating today. The Commandant Zimbabwe Staff College, Brigadier General Dr Muzvidziwa, and your team, we value your contribution,” said the President.
