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At the National Sports Stadium in Harare, there was a parade mounted by war veterans for the first time since independence. Other principals in the inclusive Government, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara attended the occasion.

Delegates, including Cabinet Ministers and service chiefs, arrived as early as 8:30am and were treated with luscious melodies from the Mbare Chimurenga Choir.
President Mugabe arrived later in the company of the ZDF commander, General Constantine Chiwenga amid thunderous cheers from the public.
Soon after his arrival, the President inspected a parade by the ZDF followed by an opening speech by Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa. Minister Mnangagwa commended the ZDF’s role in maintaining peace in the country and undertaking social responsibility activities.

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As part of its social responsibility, Minister Mnangagwa said this year defence forces conducted eye cataract operations at Victoria Falls Hospital.
“The social responsibility effort is intended to increase public awareness, develop positive perceptions as well as improve relations between the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and its various publics.

In line with this perspective, this year the country witnessed ZDF eye specialists working together with their colleagues from the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and the Eyes for Africa voluntary specialist doctors conducting an eye cataract extraction camp at Victoria Falls Hospital from 1 to 5 August 2011.”

At regional and international level, Minister Mnangagwa said the ZDF played an important role in maintaining world peace. He said the ZDF was chairing the Sadc Defence Inspectorate working group, taking over from the Angolan Defence Forces.

The Sadc Defence Inspectorate working group is responsible for monitoring compliance and maintenance of standards within the military component of the Sadc standby brigade and the regional peacekeeping training centre. After Minister Mnangagwa’s opening remarks, President Mugabe conferred medals on 1 253 members of the ZDF.

The medals are Grand Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of the Merit (GZM), Commander of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit (CZM), Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit (OZM) and Member of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit (MZM). Fifteen members represented the 1 253 who were honoured. These are Brig Gen TE Moyo, Col N Javani, Col B Nyathi, Group Captain D Jaricha, Group Captain TM Muchena, Lt Col O Mathe, Lt Col LT Gunduza, Wing Commander W Makurumidze, Wing Commander A Gwata, Major F Dube, Major E Selome, Squadron Leader C Mukanyiwa, Squadron Leader B Ndoro, Warrant Officer Class 1 S Chinotungamira and Warrant Officer Class 1 EB Goto.

Later in the day, delegates had an opportunity to see displays by ZDF members.
There was a soccer match in the afternoon between the Zimbabwe ZDF select against their Mozambican counterparts.