‘ZDF mandated to help communities’
THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces has a constitutional mandate to foster a close relationship with the community through development, a senior army officer has said.
Speaking during the handover of an Early Childhood Education block constructed by ZDF artisans at Mudhenge Primary School in Masvingo West constituency, on Wednesday, Chief of Staff (General Staff) Major-General David Sigauke said the force was carrying out community work as part of its constitutional obligations.
The construction of the ECD block at Mudhenge School was part of several projects undertaken by the ZDF as part of its community assistance week.
“It is important to note that community assistance projects play a pivotal role in fostering, cementing and nurturing the already existing cordial relations between the Defence Forces and the generality of the Zimbabwean population.”
“The community assistance programmes of this nature are not mere part-time activities by the ZDF as some may think or believe.
“These are constitutional obligations enunciated and espoused in the Defence Forces mandate,” said Maj-Gen Sigauke.
He said while ZDF’s primary role was to jealously safeguard Zimbabwe’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and vital national interests, the ZDF was also constitutionally mandated to perform other secondary roles.
“These among others include military to civil communities. It is within the ambit of this very important role that the ZDF commits itself to partnering communities in undertaking community assistance projects like the one here at Mudhenge Primary School and elsewhere in the various districts and provinces countrywide,” he said.
Major-General Sigauke said through community projects, the defence forces were embracing the water and fish concept which guided the effective execution of the country’s arduous and protracted liberation struggle.
He said the ZDF was the people’s force, which should always identify itself with the people, serve and advance the interests of the Zimbabwean masses.
“You may be aware that ZDF in the past few weeks, managed to complete and handover a number of projects to different communities in various provinces and districts throughout the country.”
Major-General Sigauke said under the same programme, the ZDF has this year, handed over two lecture room blocks at the Reformed Church University in Masvingo.
“Three ECD blocks were handed over at St Mannocks Primary School in Mashonaland West,Kwekwe Primary School and Redcliff Primary School on August 9 and 10 in the Midlands Province, respectively,” he said.
In his acceptance speech Mudhenge Primary School headmaster Mr Jim Chigodora appreciated the effort made by the ZDF in promoting education through infrastructural development.
“We thank the ZDF for helping us construct the ECD block in line with the requirements of the updated curriculum. The total cost of constructing this block was $26 000 and without the army’s intervention, we were not going to complete the project,” said Mr Chigodora.
The ZDF is undertaking 49 projects under Community Assistance programme throughout the country with most of them having been completed and handed over to beneficiaries.
In Masvingo province, the ZDF also provided free health services at Mushandike Clinic hundreds of villagers during the Community Assistance week at the beginning of this month.
In attendance at the ceremony were 4 Infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier-General Exsebios Tshuma, President of Chiefs Council Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira, Masvingo West national assembly member, Cde Ezra Chadzamira, among others.