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President Mugabe

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter—
President Mugabe yesterday presented prizes to police and army officers, war veterans and civilians who performed well in the 2014 President’s Medal Shoot Competition at Cleveland Rifle Range. The event was organised by the Zimbabwe Republic Police. Those who participated in the shooting competition included officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services, Presidential Guard, war veterans and civilians.

Sergeant Gregory Mugova of the Air Force of Zimbabwe was the 2014 President’s Medal Shoot Champion, while Chief Prison Officer Olivia Kachamaedza won in the female category.

Sgt Mugova walked away with a holiday voucher for two nights for two at Golden Peacock Motel in Mutare, US$1 000 and a portfolio from Mbada Diamonds, a 704i cellphone from G-Tel Zimbabwe, a floating trophy courtesy of Savanna, the Zimbabwe Independence Trophy and a gold medal.

CPO Kachamaedza won a holiday voucher for two nights for two at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, US$1 000 and a portfolio from Mbada Diamonds, a 704i cellphone from G-Tel Zimbabwe, a Mbuya Nehanda Trophy and a gold medal.

Winners at various stages walked away with prize money and medals, while all the participants got US$100 each.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Mugabe assured the nation that the economy was on the recovery path after Government put in place measures to guarantee economic resurgence and adopted steps to eradicate malperformances in its institutions.

He said several measures would be put in place to guarantee the economic resurgence, with the Zim-Asset being one of them.
“Zim-Asset will have all Government and quasi-Government institutions formulate their strategic action plans to be supervised through the Integrated Results-Based Management,” he said.

“IRBM is a strategic management tool aimed at effectively eradicating malperformance. It focuses on enhancing commitment and duty consciousness in all Government workforce.

“I am confident that the implementation of IRBM should effectively bring about the desired success of our economic turnaround.”
President Mugabe said while the shooting competition was aimed at nurturing and sharpening the shooting skills of the country’s security forces, it also afforded an active platform for social interaction between members of the security forces and civilians.

“As the participants fight to outwit each other on the shooting range, the nation gets guaranteed of a constant supply of highly skilled and dependable marksmen,” he said.

“During the course of the tourney, participants underwent a rigorous and stiff elimination process, which started off with 528 competitors — 383 males and 145 females.

“The high number of female participants attests to the growing interest among women involving themselves in a competition previously male-dominated.”
President Mugabe said the winners of the competition should be congratulated for having withstood the “physically exerting and demanding pressures of the elimination process”.

President Mugabe said their determination to succeed in the shooting competition was a true reflection of the superior quality, characteristic and symptomatic of the country’s security forces that have seen them getting recognition and secondment to various peacekeeping missions where they have consistently acquired a reputation of excellence.

As a result, President Mugabe said, Zimbabweans were proud of the security forces who have distinguished themselves in various missions across the globe, among them East Timor, Kosovo, Sudan, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau.

“Similarly, the country’s impeccable record on international assignments continues to soar as our security forces are flying high our national flag in Sudan, South Sudan, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said.

“Evidently, the deployments are an eloquent testimony of the growing demand for our quality services by the UN, AU and the SADC.”
President Mugabe said the security forces continued to be highly responsive and readily supportive in providing humanitarian assistance during disaster situations like the Tokwe-Mukosi disaster and the Tsholotsho floods.

He thanked Namibia for providing a helicopter that assisted in airlifting the flood victims in Tokwe-Mukosi.
President Mugabe hailed Mbada Diamonds and other companies that sponsored the awards and the organisers who ensured success of the competition.

In his remarks, Commissioner-General of Police Augustine Chihuri said the shooting competition continued to grow, with female participants briskly and confidently taking up the challenge and excelling.

He said there had been an increase in the number of civilian clubs that participated in the shooting competition.
“Your Excellency, as security forces together with the nation at large, our hearts stand stoutly garrisoned by your inspirational fortitude, unparalleled resilience, vivid leadership and steadfast stewardship,” said Comm-Gen Chihuri.

“As a nation, we individually and collectively draw this unyielding strength from your outstanding principled bravery and self-sacrificial love of the country.”
Mbada Diamonds corporate affairs executive Mr George Manyaya, who spoke on behalf of other sponsors, hailed President Mugabe for standing resolute in steering the country out of sanctions-induced economic hardships.

“Your Excellency, may I take this opportunity to congratulate you as the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for your sustained patriotic visionary guidance and leadership in steering the nation in the face of crippling illegal sanctions our country Zimbabwe has been subjected to,” he said.