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President Mugabe shares lighter moments with Chief Mashayamombe Ignatius Chiketa after confering him with a Master of Science degree in Peace, Leadership and Conflict Resolution during the Zimbabwe Open University graduation ceremony in Harare yesterday. – (Picture by Tawanda Mudimu)

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces are a prime target of the punitive Western illegal sanctions because of their unwavering and unshakable stance towards neo-imperialist machinations of the country’s former colonisers, President Mugabe has said.The Head of State and Government said this yesterday during the graduation of 55 students who completed the Joint Command and Staff Course Number 26 at the Zimbabwe Staff College.

President Mugabe said as such, Western countries considered the ZDF as the stumbling block in their bid to effect illegal regime change in the country.

“As such, they (ZDF) are a prime target of the West’s illegal sanctions, hence the calls for the so-called security sector reforms,” he said.

“I am pleased that in spite of all this, the defence forces have remained resolute in discharging their mandate of defending the country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, in a manner that leaves our adversaries green with envy.”

President Mugabe said the ZDF proved their mettle as the true vanguard of the country’s revolution, freedom and democracy.

At international level, President Mugabe said the ZDF demonstrated to be a force to reckon with as it contributed immensely to world peace and tranquillity.

“It is common knowledge that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces have excelled and earned deserved recognition as reliable and principled guarantors of our national peace and security,” he said.

“They have also done well regionally and internationally through their important contributions to the existence of lasting peace in various spots across the globe. This incredible achievement is attributable to the high levels of professionalism and diligence that characterise the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, a result of their high quality personnel training and development programmes.”

President Mugabe said ZDF’s training and development policy was a confirmation of the unquestionable credentials of the uniformed forces who had become an epitome of Zimbabwe’s untiring resistance to colonialism, neo-colonialism and plunder and abuse of Zimbabwean resources by its erstwhile colonial masters.

He hailed the Zimbabwe Staff College for making invaluable contribution towards inculcation of nationalistic and patriotic virtues in the students.

“I am convinced that armed with these important virtues, the officers will no longer pander to the whims and caprices of neo-colonialists,” he said.

“Through the same virtues, the officers are also able to discern our detractors’ disguise through their local allies who still crave for the imperial domination of this country.”

Some of the students that attended the Joint Command and Staff Course Number 26 were drawn from regional countries such as South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Botswana and Lesotho.

President Mugabe said enrolment of foreign students was important in fostering and cementing regional security.

“The number of students from the Sadc region enrolling for the Joint Command and Staff Course has increased over the years, a development that demonstrates the region’s shared vision in promoting the exchange of ideas and experiences amongst the defence forces.

“Joint training of the defence forces will also promote the achievement of the much-needed collective regional security and economic integration.”

President Mugabe paid tribute to China’s continued technical support through seconding of successive contingents of professional training staff to the Zimbabwe Defence College since 2004.

President Mugabe later met with Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla at State House.

Speaking to journalists after an hour’s long meeting, Minister Parrilla said he was on an official visit to Harare to exchange notes with Zimbabwe and enhance cooperation between the two countries.

He said Harare and Havana shared common interests and values.

Minister Parrilla said Zimbabwe was slapped with illegal sanctions by the West the same way Cuba was embargoed through the US blockade.

“We share common values and challenges with Zimbabwe,” he said. “We want to learn from Zimbabwe’s experience.”

Minister Parrilla, who was accompanied by Cuban ambassador to Zimbabwe Elio Savon and Zimbabwe deputy Foreign Affairs Minister

Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, said he would hold official talks with his Zimbabwean counterpart Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi today.