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clear confirmation that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces are a formidable and most sought-after army internationally despite calls by MDC formations and their handlers for security sector reforms.
The ZDF have acquitted themselves well despite the crippling effects of the West’s illegal economic sanctions, and Britain – in apparent acknowledgement of the West’s arms embargo – pledged to bankroll the de-ployment.

The Herald has it on good authority that the British Government made a request through its defence attaché in Ethiopia to have the ZDF deploy its engineering personnel in Somalia.
It is understood that the British defence attaché engaged her Zimbabwean counterpart where she intimated her country’s inte-rests regarding the Somali war.

However, because of London’s strained diplomatic relations with Harare, it could not formally engage Zimbabwe and decided to advance its interests through the African Union Commission.
The AU Commission in turn responded positively to the British request and wrote a letter to Zimbabwe in May requesting the country to deploy 850 troops in the troubled West African country.
“As a follow up to an earlier NV (note verbale) submitted, the African Union Commission is requesting for the deployment of a battalion size of 850 all ranks or any speciality in the mission.

“The African Union Commission through bilateral partner support can assist the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe to raise equipment,” reads part of the letter.
Last week, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe had declined some peacekeeping missions requested by the AU and the United Nations.
A Government official yesterday said such a gesture was a vindication by Britain and its Western allies that Zimbabwe’s ZDF was a strong force.

“This is a vindication that the ZDF is a reputable force capable to defend its territorial integrity and at the same time discharge international duties diligently.
“Again, this is an admission that illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe left the ZDF unscathed not only on military basis but by way of reputation. In actual sense, such a request amounts to a backhanded tribute to the ZDF. A request on specialised personnel confirmed that the ZDF is a repository of skills such as engineering,” said a senior Government.

Another Government official said the request exposed the hypocrisy of the British Government.
“The British are agitating for security sector reform in Zimbabwe and one can see that the furore about security sector reform is not about the professionalism of the ZDF but a political question hinged on regime change agenda.

“How can a repressive army at home be a good instrument abroad? ZDF’s professionalism is beyond any reasonable doubt and its reputable deeds are there for everyone to see,” said the official.
The official said Zimbabwe quashed the British request because it was not aimed at finding a lasting solution the Somali war.

“The British are trying to use Zimbabwe’s army to protect their geo political interests in Somalia. In the eyes of the British they are seeing Al Qaeda in Somalia while Africans are after resolving the Somali crisis.

“As such Zimbabwe cannot be used protect other countries’ political interest,” he added.
The official added: “After the imposition of illegal sanctions Zimbabwe could not access spare parts for squadron Hawk aircraft. Zimbabwe then transformed the squa-dron Hawks and came up with a more efficient one used in the Democratic Republic of Congo and that alarmed the British.

“In that case the sanctions arms package meant that Britain turned into an unwitting salesperson for firearm supplies as it was facing stiff competition from other suppliers.”
This is not the first time that the British have expressed their admiration of the ZDF as former British defence chief, General Charles Guthrie is on record warning former premier Tony Blair, who entertained thoughts of launching a military invasion on Zimbabwe – against pitting British forces against ‘‘the tried and tested veterans of the Congo” in reference to Zimbabwe’s exploits during

Operation Sovereign Legitimacy that protected the territorial integrity of the DRC that was being overrun by US-backed rebels.