Defence forces pledge allegiance to communities

THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) is a people’s army hence it will continue to assist communities in need of a helping hand.

This was said last Friday by Thornhill Airforce Base Wing Commander Patrick Jeke following a clean-up campaign and work carried out by members of the ZDF in Gweru as part of Defence Forces Community Assistance week programme.

“We are not only into war but we are a people’s force so we continue associating with the community. The programme was not running in the Midlands only but countrywide. This year we partnered with the Gweru Polytechnic which provided us with the artisans who provided skilled labour,” he said.

ZDF members visited the Queen of Peace Rehabilitation Centre where they erected a septic tank and are in the process of installing a water tank.

“Also we conducted general cleaning at the centre. At Batanai Old Age People’s Home we partnered Gweru Polytechnic and repaired stoves and fridges. At the Naran – Jairos Jiri centre, a school for children with hearing impairment, we repaired their drip irrigation pipes which had been damaged by rats, carried out plumbing works and drilled a borehole,” said the wing commander.

At Zimcare Trust Mudavanhu School the defence forces repaired beds which were in a bad state, washed blankets and created a fire guard.

Mudavanhu School Deputy Headmistress Mrs Anna Mukwazhe expressed her gratitude to the ZDF for helping the school.

“We are a welfare organisation and we cannot do some of the work on our own so as a school we would like to thank ZDF for helping us,” she said.—@ amanda49