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Zimbabwe commemorates 44th Heroes and Defence Forces today. Our reporter Columbus Mabika (CM) had an exclusive interview with Commander ZNA, Lieutenant General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe (ANS).

CM: What is your vision as the Commander ZNA?

ANS: My vision is to transform the Zimbabwe National Army into a robust, flexible and credible force capable of responding to all forms of contemporary threats, to guarantee peace and security for the country.  

CM: Briefly, how is your capacity and capability to withstand any external military threats?

ANS: In terms of Section 212 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013 “the function of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces is to protect Zimbabwe, its people, its national security and interests and its territorial integrity and above all, our sovereignty….” 

Accordingly, the Zimbabwe National Army is purpose-established and disposed to execute self-defence to repulse any external threat pursuant to article 51 of the UN Charter both as an individual entity, and within the context of collective security

CM: Can you explain the role of the ZNA in supporting the civil power in Zimbabwe?

ANS: Firstly, the Zimbabwe National Army derives its authority to support civil power from Section 213 of the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

On that note, the army is indeed the last line of defence of every inch of our one and only God-given sacrosanct motherland. We are therefore the nation’s watchdog on every aspect to do with national security and maintenance of public order. 

Remember, throughout our history since 1980, we have managed to support the Zimbabwe Republic Police in some of their operations where they would have been overstretched, especially in cases of public order management, border control operations as well as road blocks, just to mention a few

We also have troops deployed on border control operations, assisting the Zimbabwe Republic Police to enforce the legal movement of people and goods through legal exit and entry points. 

The assistance, therefore, is also extended to other Government agencies such as Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Civil Aviation Authority and the Department of Immigration. As you may be aware, these exit and entry points have become hotspots for all sorts of illegal activities.

As the Zimbabwe National Army, we continue assisting these Government departments in fighting the smuggling of hard drugs, dangerous substances, also some precious minerals and even human trafficking to prevent compromising our national security of our beloved nation. Our deployments assist in curbing these illegal activities.

CM: How successful have been your civil military relations programmes focusing on community assistance projects?

ANS: Indeed, our civil military relations programmes have been successful and our track record in that regard speaks for itself. As the Zimbabwe National Army, we have been involved in a number of community assistance projects, for example, the construction of public amenities such as clinics and schools just to mention a few. 

These projects help to improve the welfare and well-being of the generality of our citizens with a particular bias towards the disadvantaged communities. We provide skilled labour and technical expertise in the form of artisans from our Engineers Corps. 

Let me just highlight on some of these completed and ongoing projects;

Firstly, in terms of building materials and other resources needed for the construction, they are provided by stakeholders from the corporate world and the local communities. 

Indeed, these projects have uplifted the standards of living of disadvantaged communities. As a matter of fact, assisting communities is a social obligation of the army to the general public as given in our secondary roles such as military aid to civil communities. 

I am glad at this stage to let the nation know that the Zimbabwe National Army has a number of projects that we are undertaking. For now, eight of these projects were completed and handed over to the communities last week. 

In the Matabeleland region, we constructed two classroom blocks at Tshino Secondary School in Tsholotsho while in Mashonaland East;

We constructed an ECD classroom block at Nyakabau Primary School in Mutoko as well as a girls dormitory at Nhowe Secondary School in Murehwa.

In Manicaland Province:

We constructed some classroom blocks at a new site at St Charles Lwanga Secondary School in Chimanimani following the destruction of the former school by Cyclone Idai in 2019.

We also constructed a classroom block at Samanyika Primary School in Nyanga North.

In Masvingo Province:

We constructed Alfred Nikita Mangena Poly Clinic in Mwenezi.

In Midlands Province:

We constructed a classroom block at Johndale Primary School in Mhondoro, Ngezi.

We also constructed another classroom block at Twin Top Secondary School again in Mhondoro, Ngezi.

Lastly we constructed a classroom block at Tsungai Shumba Primary School in Gokwe North.

In Harare Metropolitan Province

•Presidential Guard Brigade constructed the Headmaster’s Residence at Oriel Boys High School in Chisipite.

•They also constructed a Single Storey Administration Block at Kuwadzana 2 High School.

Last but not least, in Mashonaland West, we constructed an administration block and a classroom block at Winchens Secondary School in Banket.

CM: Can you tell us about the ZNA medical outreach programme?

ANS: With regards to medical outreach programme, we provided army nurses in the month of February who participated during the national polio mop-up immunisation programme around the country.

We also provided doctors and nurses who treated patients free of charge in Tsholotsho. Plans are also at an advanced stage for our doctors to be deployed in Manicaland and carry out eye cataract operations.

CM: General Sir, we are in peace time. What training milestones have you achieved as the ZNA to be able to execute the primary and secondary roles, including tasks you have mentioned before?

ANS: As an organisation, we prepare for war during peacetime hence, training is a continuous process. As a matter of principle, the Zimbabwe National Army is preoccupied with training during peacetime and we shall train as we shall fight. Apart from physical training exercises, we also send our officers, men and women to attend courses at our training institutions and local universities and at our all-weather friendly countries’ military training establishments and their universities.

We also train to support regional, continental and United Nations Peacekeeping and peace support operations.

CM:Thank you for your time Lt-Gen.