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Mash Central Correspondents
ZIMBABWEANS should cherish the peace and stability that the country is enjoying and should not take it for granted as there are other countries that are reeling due to civil wars and instability, ASA Resources group chief executive Mr Toi Muganyi has said.

He was speaking at the Mashonaland Central Chapter of the Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Executive Interaction Initiative Fun Shoot held at the CMED Gallery Range in Bindura recently.

Mr Muganyi said people should not think that war was preferable to economic problems, as it had far more devastating effects.

“I have heard people on social media saying they want war, but let me tell you this, war has far more devastating effects than you can imagine, which I personally witnessed during my travel to war-torn countries,” he said.

“I don’t like war and I will never like it, so when we are being protected by the army and enjoying the peace and stability we should never take the bullets being fired away from us for granted because the moment they are fired at you that is when you will realise how devastating they can be.

“We will continue to support this event as it is part and parcel of our social corporate responsibility. The army is there to defend our national sovereignty, so we should do our part to protect our social security, and our production is part and parcel of our national defence.”

Speaking at the same event, Commander Artillery Brigade, Brigadier-General Stanley Mangena, said the idea of holding the fun shoot was born out of the desire to promote the mutual understanding and cooperation between the ZNA and the corporate world in a relaxed environment.

He said the fun shoot was aimed at fund-raising for the ZDF charities which include the ZNA Widows and Orphans Trust Fund, ZNA Schools Welfare Trust Fund, ZNA Patients Welfare Trust Fund and ZNA Benevolent Trust.

Meanwhile, 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 hardships.

“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.”