Let’s shun divisions, says VP Chiwenga
VICE PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga yesterday implored Zimbabweans to shun divisions and uphold unity of purpose if the country is to achieve socio-economic development.
The Vice President, who is also responsible for the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, was speaking at the new Reformed Church University campus on the outskirts of Masvingo city where he officially launched the 2018 Zimbabwe Defence Forces Community Assistance Week.
He also officially handed over a lecture room block built by ZDF artisans at the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe-owned university under the auspices of the Military Assistance to Civil Communities.
VP Chiwenga hailed the existence of dynamic and cordial civil-military relations between the ZDF and the Zimbabwean community at large.
“When we are united, we achieve great things together,” he said.
“Let us, therefore shun divisions and uphold the unity of purpose, patriotism, loyalty and national pride.”
VP Chiwenga underscored ZDF’s continued commitment to partnering stakeholders in ensuring that the force played its part in engendering socio-economic and infrastructural development in the country.
He appealed to the corporate world to take a leaf from the ZDF and render assistance to communities in need as part of their corporate social responsibility programme.
“The ZDF are mandated by the Constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe to utilise its inherent expertise to assist communities and institutions in need under the auspices of the Military Assistance to Civil Communities during peace time,” said VP Chiwenga.
“This concept was created to empower needy communities to achieve sustainable development, with a bias towards rural areas, to complement several other initiatives being conducted by Government.”
VP Chiwenga said Government remained committed to improving the quality of higher education in the country as evidenced by last month’s launch by President Mnangagwa of three Higher and Tertiary Education investment projects, which saw investors committing more than $1,5 billion.
The envisaged investment, said VP Chiwenga was expected to improve the quality of education in universities, colleges and vocational training centres through providing students and lecturing staff with accommodation, innovation, research and learning facilities, Eduzones and Wi-Fi facilities.
VP Chiwenga commended ZDF artisans for constructing a lecture room block at RCU following a request made to the force by the institution.
The new block was expected to improve the quality of education at the fledgling institution of higher learning.
VP Chiwenga said the ZDF remained resolutely committed to carrying out programmes that advanced the country’s interests and the will of its citizens.
He challenged current and future RCU students not to vandalise the newly-commissioned block, but guard their jewel jealously for the benefit of future generations.
VP Chiwenga thanked sponsors who availed both material and financial resources towards the construction of the lecture room block.
“As for RCU lecturers and members of staff, the block is now your work station,” he said.
“I believe you appreciate its availability and the handover should be a realisation of your dreams.”
Besides the lecture room block built at RCU in Masvingo, ZDF will also be handing over various projects throughout the country during the force’s Community Assistance Week.
Among the projects to be handed over is an ECD block at Redcliff Primary School in the Midlands and a classroom block at Zhaugwe Primary School.
In Masvingo, an ECD block will be handed over at Mudenge Primary School, while in Manicaland there will be handover of Mapako Clinic and a classroom block at Mount Carmel Primary School in Headlands and two classroom blocks at Nyamauru School in Dangamvura.
In Mashonaland West province, two ECD blocks will be handed over at St Mannocks Primary School in Zvimba, while in Mashonaland Central a classroom block will be handed over at Soma Secondary School.
In Matabeleland South province, Mayfair Bridge will be handed over in Insiza South and two classroom blocks at Ntunungwe Secondary School in Plumtree.
VP Chiwenga said ZDF will upon completion, hand over projects at Ndarama High School in Masvingo and Rusununguko High School in Goromonzi, together with Marapira Clinic in Gokwe.
In Masvingo, the ZDF Health Services is also offering free medical, dental and pharmaceutical assistance at Mushandike Clinic for the whole of this week.
In his address at the RCU, Commander Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Philip Valerio Sibanda urged those in need of assistance from the ZDF to make sure they have all the required materials on site to reduce the turnaround time required to complete projects under the auspices of the Military Assistance to Civil Communities.
Gen Sibanda said ZDF only provided artisans, while the beneficiaries were responsible for supplying all the materials and labour.
Present at the ceremony was Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira, ZNA Commander Lieutenant-General Edzai Chimonyo and his Air Force of Zimbabwe counterpart Air Marshal Elson Moyo, RCU Chancellor Reverend Rangarirai Rutoro and other senior government and Reformed Church officials.