ZDF, Russian armed forces reflect on duties
ZIMBABWE Defence Forces and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have protected and will always protect the integrity, independence and prosperity of their countries and people, Russian Military and Air Attaché Colonel Pavel Samsonov has said.
Speaking at the Victory Day and the 26th Anniversary of Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Harare yesterday, Col Samsonov said 73 years ago, the Soviet people won the Great Patriotic War.
“Now we celebrate the Victory Day and the 26th Anniversary of Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. This day is honoured by the people of the Russian Federation. Devotion to motherland helped our people to defeat Fascism.
“This is the day of national triumph and pride; the day of sorrow and eternal memory,” he said.
Col Samsonov said the people of Russia should remember the heroism of their fathers and grandfathers who fought with the enemy, with some of them losing their lives. He said for five years, people of different nationalities fought together against Fascism.
“More than 26 million Soviet people lost their lives. We will always remember the heroic deed of our people and we will teach our young generation to remember it forever,” Col Samsonov.
He said the Russian Military Forces, as a State Military Organisation of the Russian Federation, has the main task to protect their territorial integrity, repulse aggression and fulfil missions of International Treaties.
“The Armed of Forces of the Russian Federation and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces protected and will protect integrity, independence and prosperity of our countries and our people,” Col Samsonov said.
The event was attended by the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Philip Valerio Sibanda and senior army and Government officials.
During the past few years, Zimbabwe and Russia have continued to enjoy and strengthen bilateral relations.
In March, Zimbabwe and Russia signed three memoranda of understanding, one of which aimed to facilitate the setting up of a Russian industrial zone in the country.
The MoUs were signed at Munhumutapa Offices following a meeting between Russia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Sergey Lavrov and President Mnangagwa. The other two MoUs focus on mutual cooperation in industrial development and modernisation of Zimbabwe’s agriculture.
The MoUs on the establishment of an industrial zone and mutual cooperation in industrial development were signed by Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Mike Bimha and Russia’s Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Mr Georgy Kalamanov.
The MoU to modernise agriculture was signed by Agriculture, Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri (Retired) and Mr Kalamanov.