ZNA commanders’ course ends in style
A HEAVY smoke enshrouded Nyanga last Friday as the Zimbabwe National Army(ZNA) conducted a deliberate attack live firing exercise to mark the end of 14 week-long commanders’ course at All Arms Battle School.
The enlivening mock battle drills turned the Nyanga military training area into a war zone as several artillery guns, armoured tanks, mortars and other various weapons bludgeoned on selected makeshifts enemy targets in simulation of a real battle. Speaking during the graduation soon after the exercise, Commander ZNA Lieutenant-General (Lt-Gen) Edzai Absolom Chimonyo said such training exercises were illustrative of the seriousness and value that the force attaches to training.
“This event is testimony to the importance the ZNA attaches tothe training and development of its senior and field officers in the handling of troops and equipment at battalion level. It is through training that over the years, the ZNA has excelled in combined training programmes, exercises and operations in SADC and other countries,” he said.
Lt Gen Chimonyo said the army has an obligation to ensure a peaceful environment conducive for socio-economic development and national prosperity exists. He challenged graduands to take charge of their subordinates so that high standards of professionalism are always maintained.
“In any society, the army as part of the security forces is there to maintain a stable environment conducive for socio-economic development and national prosperity. I expect each of you to play their part in ensuring that we continue to uphold the high standards of professionalism that have enabled us to succeed on military campaigns and international duties that we have undertaken so far,” he said.
He commended graduands for displaying flawless discipline during their training. He directed them to nurture and inculcate good discipline into their subordinates.
12 students graduated on completion of the rigorous course.
Subjects covered included leadership, role of a commanding officer, infrastructure and equipment management, operations room procedure, asymmetric warfare, employment of support arms and weapons in all phases of war, among others.
The school also runs the company group commanders’ course and platoon commanders’ course which also took part in the field training exercise.
The exercise was supported by 41 combat group.