THE Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, says the nation will never compromise on its legitimate interests and freedom, hence the need for the defence forces to remain beacons of national peace, security, and socio-economic development.
During the 45th Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day celebrations at Rufaro Stadium in Harare, the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, President Mnangagwa, emphasised that national interests must come before anything else.
“Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy of none. However, as an independent and sovereign country, we will never sacrifice our legitimate rights and interests or our peace and security. Colonial oppression and the liberation struggle exposed us to brutality and suffering that can result from war and conflict. Zimbabwe’s commitment to national, regional, and continental peace, as well as to a peaceful international order, anchored on the equality of nations, is, therefore, unshakeable.
“We continue to work for the peaceful resolution of international disputes and to support the SADC, African Union, and United Nations initiatives, in this regard. To date, members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces are deployed for Peace Support Operations under the auspices of SADC, the African Union, and the United Nations, in various international peace and security initiatives,” he said.
President Mnangagwa urged the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to align their training to emerging challenges such as cybersecurity, climate change, and other pandemics.
“The fast-paced and multi-pronged global developments require that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces spread beyond the traditional role of defending our national sovereignty and territorial integrity from external military threats. I, therefore, challenge the Defence Forces to continue increasing their capabilities around a wider range of threats that relate to economic instability, climate change, cyber-attacks, pandemics, and terrorism.
“In this spirit, I applaud the various initiatives being undertaken by our forces to provide military aid to civil power. This includes activities with regards to border control and the combating of drug and substance abuse. The role of the ZDF in addressing climate change and disaster preparedness is worth commendation. During the last rainy season, the involvement of our Forces in search and rescue operations to assist villagers affected by floods brought speedy relief to affected communities,” he added.
Significant strides in the demining exercise have been commended as well as the on-going drive to improve the service conditions of the defence forces.
“We have made significant strides towards becoming a mine-free country as only 4% of the original 850km of minefields remain infested. The most recent milestone was the completion of the Rusitu to Muzite Mission minefield in December 2024. This has made Manicaland Province a mine-free territory.
“I congratulate the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for a job well done. Makorokoto. Amhlophe. My gratitude is also extended to development partners and international humanitarian de-mining organisations for the financial and material support extended to the programme. On its part, the Government will continue to capacitate the Zimbabwe Defence Force’s National Mine Clearance Unit, said the President.
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces were commended for the community work they have embarked on this year, “All of us have a role to play in building our motherland, Zimbabwe, including the Defence Forces and members of the Security Sector, as a whole. It is exemplary that our Defence Forces continues to undertake Social Responsibility projects which are having a transformational impact on our people at the community level.
“The 2025 Zimbabwe Defence Forces Community Assistance Week, which preceded these commemorations, saw the handover of various community projects undertaken by the Defence Forces throughout the country. Others are at various stages of completion, including twenty-nine projects in the education sector and four clinics in the health sector.”
Besides guaranteeing peace and stability, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces has been visible in fostering community development with a number of infrastructure projects such as classroom blocks, health centres and bridges having been handed over to communities during the ZDF Community Assistance Week.
