Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
At least 95 non-commissioned members of the Zimbabwe National Army graduated at Chitekedza Barracks in Mt Darwin last Friday after successfully completing a four-month-long Basic Stores Course.

Fifteen of the graduates were female.

Guest of honour, ZNA Director Ordinance, Colonel Kenneth Chihumba, said he was impressed by the number of women who undertook the course which is in line with ZNA’s efforts towards gender mainstreaming.

“I am informed that you faced a number of challenges, chief among them lack of training aids,” he said.

“Efforts are being made to acquire appropriate training aids and other related resources.

“Faced with compromising conditions of service, the first casualty is discipline.

“The temptation to cut corners in a bid to make ends meet becomes high, but I urge you to resist such temptations.

“You should shun violence, corruption and other vices that bring the organisation into disrepute.

“A disciplined person takes orders, instructions and directives with ease. Discipline is the blood that gives life to the ZNA, without discipline the organisation is doomed.

“It is not surprising that a lot of time is devoted to discipline-enhancing activities such as drills.”

Col Chihumba said the general squad drill and small arms course, which commenced on August 6, was conducted under harsh economic conditions.

“The course is the third to be held in Mt Darwin after the unit relocated from Mutoko,” he said.

“The course was conducted under harsh economic conditions in a new environment marking another milestone achievement as we continue to prove our resilience in the face of economic hardship.

“The course is designed to produce competent and disciplined junior non-commissioned officers professionally motivated to display high standards of general squad drill, small arms, command and control, leadership and administrative knowledge.

“If we add pain, misery, discomfort and dangers of combat situations it makes sense that military command requires more than just ordinary leaders if armies are to serve their primary roles of extending the politics of nations by other means.”

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