Published by the government of Zimbabwe
9 August 2008
Harare — THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces will always strive to assist the community by extending a genuine helping hand rather than leaving them to depend on foreign assistance through non-governmental organisations whose agendas maybe at variance with national interests, a senior Governmental official has said.
Addressing people during a tour of the ZDF community assistance projects in Gokwe, Secretary for Defence Mr Trust Maphosa paid tribute to the defence forces for demonstrating that they were a responsive people's force.
Mr Maphosa and senior defence officials were on a tour to inspect the reconstruction of houses which were destroyed or damaged in political violence in Midlands Province.
He said Gokwe bore the brunt of the worst pre- and post-election violence during that period, resulting in the destruction of several homes and property.
Mr Maphosa said the ZDF, through the army's 5 Infantry Brigade, responded to the needs of the victims of political violence and embarked on a reconstruction programme that had seen them rebuild 78 homesteads, granaries and shops.
"We do not condone any form of violence, whether domestic or political, as this is counter-productive and greatly retards progress."
Resources being used in the reconstruction programme could have been channelled to development projects, he said, adding the defence forces have a record of assisting people in times of need.
"Some of the memorable acts that they have undertaken include evacuating victims of Cyclone Eline-induced floods in various areas of the country, reconstruction of damaged bridges and schools, distribution of relief food during droughts, and distribution of farming inputs under Operation Maguta."
Mr Maphosa said the ZDF was also currently involved in community projects in Chirundu, Bulawayo, Matabeleland South, Plumtree, Manicaland, Masvingo, Harare and Mashonaland West.
"The programmes are only part of a whole range of projects undertaken by the defence forces on a daily basis in a bid to assist the needy in our society.
"In their bid to prove that charity begins at home, the Defence Forces will always strive to assist the community by extending a genuine helping hand to our society rather than leave them to depend on foreign assistance from various NGOs, some of whose agendas may be at variance with our national interests."
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