Headquarters Bulawayo District: Imbizo Barracks
As the nation celebrates the Zimbabwe Defence Forces 37th anniversary, the Imbizo Garrison community is proud to express our allegiance to all peace loving Patriotic Zimbabweans through sharing information about our military and social activities relating to our history. The theme for this year explains a long journey that has been travelled and the Formation achievement. Formation Bulawayo District has played a very vital role in the defence of the country as it is mandated.
Imbizo Barracks was formally known as Llewellyn Barracks before independence. The land on which Imbizo Barracks was built on was home of the biggest and most efficient regiment of King Lobengula. This was the most prominent King in the Matabeleland region as a whole.
Imbizo Barracks is the home and administration hub of major training of all Zimbabwe National Army soldiers in various military schools. All ZNA soldiers began their career in the military at units prominently known as Ibumba le Butho and Academy in Gweru. These are only two official entry points in the ZNA. These institutions have a role of transforming school leavers and college graduates into recruits and cadets.
THE SCHOOL OF SIGNALS The entire ZNA is geographically dispersed by native of their role of defending the nation, sovereignty, territorial integrity and vital national interest. Despite the dispersion there is need for coordination and passage of instruction. This is done through the Corps and Signals. The element of training manpower of Signals is a responsibility of the School of Signals, a unit under the Bulawayo District (Imbizo Barracks).
MEDICAL TRAINING SCHOOL It is said a healthy body has a healthy mind; hence soldiers may always have healthy minds. The ZNA managed its health delivery system. The role of the MTS is to train medical and paramedical personnel for the organisation. Some of the courses run by the school are State Certified Traumatology Nurses, Environmental Health Technicians and Laboratory technicians just to mention few. These courses are also available in the Army because they specialise on war related injuries.
There are many courses run by Medical Training School. The School is further mandated to provide a medical package to other courses such as the Medical Officers Standardisation, the Regular Officers Cadet, Catering and Driving courses.
ORDINANCE SUPPLY DEPOT Ordinance Supply Depot Bulawayo is a sister depot to OSD Harare vested with the mandate to provide third line logistical support for the Formations, training schools and units in the Southern Region. ORDINANCE AND TRANSPORT
TRAINING SCHOOL Ordinance and Transport Training School falls under Bulawayo District. Due to its geographical location it is situated out of the City of Bulawayo. It was established in 1966 by the Rhodesian Forces for the purposes of training white and coloured soldiers in logistics. It was then known as the Services Training Schools (STS).The name was later changed to (OTTS) Ordinance and Transport Training School in 1987. OTTS is currently the only school mandated to run Ordinance Transport, Recovery and Procurement, Catering, Stores Management for Non Commissioned officers in the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) and sister organisations such as ZRP, ZPCS and members from the Ministry of Defence.
MILITARY SCHOOL OF MUSIC Is trusted and mandated with the responsibility of producing Professional Military bands for the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The school mandate future lies in Africa’s ability to uphold African Culture through music hence, it is the school’s mandate to produce men and women for ZDF and the Sadc region who can interpret the musical transcripts with perfection and dedication. The core value of the school is to produce bandsman who will be able to stand resolute in the preservation of our norms and values as Zimbabwean people in the face of Global Cultural Configuration.
Apart from the training schools, Imbizo houses the instructors at the school. School of Military Police is a unit stationed at head quarters 1 Infantry Brigade however; it is a sub unit of Bulawayo District.
There is Imbizo Referral Hospital that caters for the whole Southern Region of the army and is very crucial to the ZNA and the Sigola Community. This explains the massive work the command element of Bulawayo District is entrusted with.
The current commander of Bulawayo District is Colonel Rantham Moyo who took over from Commander 4 Infantry Brigade Brigadier General Exsobious Tshuma. Deputy Commander Lt Colonel Tairai Tsomeka is in charge of the day to day activities in the Formation.
Major Hebert Dhliwayo is now the Administrative Staff Officer Grade Two (GSO2).Major Abraham Marume Quarter Master Staff Officer Grade Two (GSO2).Commandant School of Infantry is Colonel Posani Masaka. Recruit Training Depot is Commandant Lt Colonel Thompson Mkwananzi, Commandant School of Signals Lt Col Jerry Mabaya, Commandant Military School of Music Lt Colonel Chadokwenda Gota. Commandant of Medical Training School Lt Colonel Trouble Chido. Senior Medical Officer Lt Col Doctor B Muchina, Commandant School of Military Police Lt Col G Magura to mention but a few.