ZDF to assist Govt in infrastructural development

THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) have pledged to continue supporting Government and needy communities in improving educational and other requisite social infrastructure by availing its technical expertise.

This was said by Defence Secretary Mr Martin Rushwaya during the official handover of two blocks of Early Childhood Development classrooms at St Marnocks Primary School in Zvimba.

The classrooms were constructed by the ZDF in partnership with the school.

The ZDF through its Mechanised Brigade provided technical expertise, while the school supplied the construction material.

In a speech read on his behalf by director procurement in the Ministry of Defence Mr Peter Muchakazi yesterday, Mr Rushwaya said the ZDF would continue to assist communities in need, especially now when the country was enjoying relative peace and stability.

“The ZDF is always ready to partner with fellow progressive Zimbabweans in its community assistance programmes. I call upon the corporate world and eminent personalities in the country to embrace the culture of giving back to their respective communities. It is high time we move away from reliance on foreign aid-driven donations and assistance in favour of self-sponsored development,” he said.

Mr Rushwaya thanked organisations and individuals for their assistance.

The ZDF dedicates the week prior to the Defence Forces Day Commemorations in August to highlight the various assistance initiatives they will be pursuing in different communities.

“In the past, the Defence Forces used to assist surrounding communities with short-term activities such as street clean-up campaigns and undertaking minor repairs to public facilities like hospitals, clinics and schools. However, due to the increasing need for new public infrastructure, mainly schools, clinics, hospitals and roads, a decision was made to refocus the community assistance programme towards construction of new public facilities,” said Mr Rushwaya.

He said lack of proper learning facilities was a challenge more pronounced in resettlement areas.

“The ZDF’s contribution is only limited to the provision of skilled labour, while funding remains the responsibility of communities and other well-wishers. This is because ZDF does not receive a specific budget from Treasury to fund communities assistance projects. As a result, some projects take longer to be completed as beneficiaries find it difficult to mobilise adequate resources.”