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Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces have managed to fend off challenges brought about by illegal sanctions imposed by the West, and have instead registered great success at home and in the region, President Mugabe has said.
Addressing thousands of people who gathered at the National Sports Stadium yesterday to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the ZDF, the President said the force had remained resolute in its mandate, rising to the occasion to assist several countries in the region through training and back up in times strife.

The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said it was good that cadres of the armed struggle formed the nucleus of the new army upon Zimbabwe’s attainment of independence in 1980.

The Zimbabwe Staff College, said the President, had over the years hosted both junior and senior officers from the region, while the ZDF Air wing assisted its counterparts in South Africa, Malawi and Tanzanian in training pilots and technicians.

“A team of Zimbabwe Defence Forces officers is currently attached to the Namibian Defence Forces, assisting with military training programmes,” he said. “Such exchanges vividly demonstrate the cordial relations that exist between the ZDF and their regional counterparts and the level of confidence these countries have in the professionalism and expertise of our forces.”

The ZDF continued to make significant efforts towards the development of sadc and African Union standby forces.
“In this regard, the ZDF have played a leading role in contributing intellectual, material and military capacities. “Our Defence Forces have participated in regional exercises as part of the build-up and operationalisation of the standby force.”

President Mugabe said while the responsibility of transforming the country’s economy lay with all sectors, the ZDF continued to be seized with the provision of food security in the country.

“The ZDF is also contributing to the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation through this and several other commercial projects that will, in the medium to long term, contribute significantly to the country’s gross domestic product,” he said.

President Mugabe narrated how nationalists teamed up to wage the liberation struggle to fight white oppression.
He chronicled events on how the first black trade unionists in the mould of Cde Benjamin Burombo, organised themselves and subsequent nationalists who spearheaded the liberation struggle that saw the attainment of independence.

The commemorations were attended by Vice President Joice Mujuru, Government Ministers, Zanu-PF Politburo members, Members of Parliament, diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe, service chiefs and senior Government officials.