Published by the government of Zimbabwe
17 November 2008
Harare — FIFTY-FIVE police officers, prison officers and soldiers on Friday graduated at the Zimbabwe Staff College after undergoing a five-month junior officers course in Harare.
Among the 55, were also soldiers from Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Mozambique.
Namibia and Mozambique had two soldiers each while the rest had one each.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Harare, the Minister of Defence, Cde Sydney Sekeramayi, said Zimbabwe as a member of Sadc, would continue to pursue the path of enhancing regional integration and co-operation by conducting joint training courses such as this one.
He said this was the 50th junior officers course to be held in the country since independence.
Cde Sekeramayi said the joint training of forces would not only enhance their mutual understanding but also improve inter-state relations between Zimbabwe and regional counterparts.
He said the curriculum was diversified and meant to equip the officers with the requisite knowledge and skills commensurate with grade staff and regimental appointments within respective services.
Cde Sekeramayi said the inclusion of weapon handling in the curriculum should have enhanced the officers' tactical employment of all forms of battalion group level.
"Non-military ministry representatives that undertook this course are now conversant with military issues and have also established good relations with colleagues in the military which will definitely enhance inter-service co-operation," said Cde Sekeramayi.
He said peace support operations and the law of armed conflict were also in the curriculum.
"The importance of these subjects in dealing with the current national and international security challenges in conflict-ridden areas cannot be overemphasised.
"It is imperative that as you join other international forces in peacekeeping and peace support, you are knowledgeable on how to conduct the business of such missions," he said.
Cde Sekeramayi urged the officers to go and practise and implement these innovative, creative ideas and skills so as to transform their respective organisations into efficient and effective arms of their governments.
"Government, through the Ministry of Defence, would continue to support the Zimbabwe Staff College in all its endeavours to ensure that the defence of the country and the entire region is entrusted to principled and patriotic officers of high professional integrity and rectitude," he said.
He commended the Chinese People's Liberation Army Instructing Team for their contribution towards the Junior Staff Course since 2004 and that the relationship was growing each and every year.
"I am aware that the biting effects of the illegal sanctions imposed on us by the West to punish us for embarking on the land reform programme, made it extremely difficult for you (the officers) to conduct normal business for the course, especially on the financial side of it," said Cde Sekeramayi.
He said although they had faced such problems, they managed to finish the course through their efforts. Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces General Constantine Chiwenga, Air Force of Zimbabwe Commander Air Marshal Perence Shiri and other senior army, Zimbabwe Prison Service and Government officials attended the graduation ceremony.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
