‘Security agents must unite to curb smuggling’

SECURITY agents deployed to curb smuggling along the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border should cooperate and work as a team to effectively seal the porous border and weed out notorious syndicates.

The appeal was made by the out-going Commander of 3 Infantry Brigade Brigadier General Lazarus Gutu when he handed over the reins to his successor and incumbent commander Brigadier General Joe Muzvidziwa Hebert Chitepo Barracks, last Friday.

Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant General Edzai Absolom Chimonyo was the chief witness during the hand over take over.

Brig Gen Gutu said law enforcement agents should be vigilant and continue engaging each other to curb the smuggling scourge.

“Mindful of the volatile situation across the length of our eastern border, we continued to maintain high vigilance. In the same vein, the importance of bilateral meetings and liaison meetings also remained topical and cannot be over emphasised.

“We also continued with border operations which includes the topical issues of smuggling activities. The matter remains a thorny issue in our minds. The scourge calls for all concern and here I mean security forces with the task of curbing the same to be committed, cooperative and supportive of one another’s effort in order to dismantle syndicates and bring to book known smugglers,” he said.

Brig Gen Gutu said those involved in smuggling should not continue enjoying liberal environments as a result of leniency by the law enforcement agencies.

He also urged Brig Gen Muzvidziwa to engage the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs for army officers to be allocated land.

“I must emphasise on this point and only hope that the suggested dialogue between the fore-stated offices will yield quicker solutions and make farming land available to our members,” he said.

Brig Gen Muzvidziwa urged army officers to be mindful of their conduct during the elections period adding that their interactions should be guided by values and ethics.

“As the nation counts down towards a watershed harmonised election set for July 30, our behaviour, individually and collectively, on and off duty, must be beyond reproach. We shall be host to people from different backgrounds entailing different persuasions, so, our interactions with them must of necessity be guided by ubuthu/ unhu values,” he said.

Brig Gen Muzvidziwa said the military should beyond reproach before, during and after the elections,.

He said army officers should heed of President Mnangagwa’s call for peace and unity.

Brig Gen Muzvidziwa said when discharging their duties army officers should continuously partake self introspection on their actions.

“In our interactions, as His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Cde Mnangagwa continues to pronounce, let us preach peace, peace and peace, love, love and love, unity, unity and unity as we create an unshakeable foundation for this generation and those generations coming after us. As we practice these important concepts in all our daily chores, we create a perfectly peaceful society for our beloved nation that will become a centre of attraction for all and sundry,” he said.

Lieutenant Gen Chimonyo said army officers should remain disciplined and committed to national security.

He said a peaceful nation is guaranteed of economic success.