By Shadreck Gurenje

 President Mnangagwa said the graduation ceremony demonstrates that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces continue to inject new officer corps into the force to play their part in safe-guarding the country’s hard-won Independence and territorial integrity.

Giving his keynote address at the Commissioning Parade of Regular Officer Cadet Course 3/40/23 in Gweru, President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa said the Regular Officer Cadet Course remains one of the most physically and mentally demanding military courses enabling graduands to deal with demands of the complex modern battlefields.

The Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces also commended the Zimbabwe Defence Forces that has taken bold strides to raise the number of female officer cadets enrolled at their strategic military institutions.

“The Regular Officer Cadet Course remains one of the most physically and mentally demanding military courses, enabling graduands to deal with demands of the complex modern battlefields.

“This graduation ceremony is yet another demonstration by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to continually inject new officer corps into our Forces, well equipped to play their part in safe-guarding our hard-won Independence, freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“It is praiseworthy that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces has taken bold strides to raise the number of female officer cadets enrolled at our strategic military institutions. By so doing, you are tapping the inherent potential of women to also contribute to our national defence, peace and security effort,”said President Mnangagwa.

The startegic twenty-one months long military training covered critical courses such as Skill at Arms; Fieldcraft; Command and Leadership; Military Law; Law of Armed Conflict and Civil Military Relations, among other aspects.

President Mnangagwa also call upon the younger officer corps as well as service men and women across the defence forces of SADC to continue guarding jealously the rich liberation heritage of cooperation and unwavering solidarity.

“You, the new crop in our militaries, have the weighty duty to be guarantors of regional peace and security. Never take this lightly and remain guided by our long standing regional mantra, “an injury to one, is an injury to all.

“Ongoing efforts by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to improve the Zimbabwe Military Academy as a centre of military excellence are commendable. Notable in this regard, is the introduction of a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Military Science and Leadership, which officer cadets now undertake concurrently, with the military phase of training,”said President Mnangagwa.

The initial enrolment of the 250 officers were drawn from the Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe and two from Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Forces.