Story by Peter Chivhima
THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) has reaffirmed its commitment to national development by equipping personnel with engineering and technical skills to support both military operations and civilian infrastructure projects.
This Thursday, the Zimbabwe School of Military Engineering hosted a graduation ceremony combining three engineering courses, marking a milestone in the ZDF’s training programme. Graduates from various Zimbabwe National Army units will apply their skills in construction, disaster response, and public infrastructure development, including the building of bridges, schools, and clinics.
Brigadier General George Chitsva, General Staff, emphasised the practical and professional responsibilities of the graduates.
“Let me hasten to remind you that you will be required to show a high level of practical proficiency in your execution of practical combat engineering tasks. If you find yourselves in any challenging situations, use your initiative and improvise as taught. Always ask for assistance or advice when faced with challenges. I also urge you to learn from your seasoned counterparts who qualified before you and worked tirelessly to uphold the image of the Corps of Engineers.
“You should continue perfecting your performance in the field as well as maintaining standards that have been set by your predecessors. When you go back to your respective units, you should display a high standard of aptitude, loyalty and dedication to duty,” he said.
The graduates drawn from various Zimbabwe National Army units pledged to continue contributing to national development.
“We are going to use the skills we have learnt during military operations. Also, we are going to use these skills for the development of our nation as you know that we are first to respond during disasters,” noted Lieutenant Panashe Smart, who graduated as the best student.
With their newly acquired skills, the graduates are expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing the country’s infrastructure and responding to emergencies, reinforcing the ZDF’s dual role in defending the nation and supporting development.
