Hwange (Indonsakusa-New Ziana) – A senior Zimbabwe Defence Forces officer has expressed disappointment in the small numbers of youth from Matabeleland North interested in serving in the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA).
Speaking during the annual Traditional Leaders Day commemoration for Matabeleland North at 1.2 Infantry Battalion in Hwange recently, ZNA Chief of Staff Quarter, Major-General Hlanganiso Tapson Dube said only a small number of youths from the region enlist during the organisation’s provincial exercises meant to spread the recruitment net to all corners of the country.
Maj-Gen Dube said traditional leaders have a crucial role of nurturing young men and women from different communities for national service in the army.
He said that the government is aware of the plight of people of Matebeleland North which include drought, shortage of water, poaching and unemployment and is working tirelessly to address these problems.
“The government has introduced CAMPFIRE project which educated communities on preserving wildlife. ZNA was also recruiting young men and women from different communities and traditional leaders have a crucial role of nurturing them in preparation for national service in the military.
Although there was recruitment, it is sad to note that only a few candidates from Matebeleland North managed to be enrolled.” he said.
Maj-Gen Dube hailed the relationship between traditional leaders and the ZNA in fostering peace and development within the communities.
“This mutual understanding between traditional leaders and the Zimbabwe National Army brings development in communities. This continued interaction of community and traditional leaders helps the community in preserving cultural values, hence making the duties of the army much easier,” he said.
Major-Gen Dube said preserving cultural values helps the community to maintain peace and unity.
“Maintaining peace and unity starts in our homes, it then spills over in our communities and to the nation as a whole, hence traditional leaders play a pivotal role in promoting peace and unity in the country,” he said.
Major-Gen Dube said traditional leaders are equally concerned about preserving the culture of the community, development in communities and the security and safety of their people, hence defending the country and its citizens becomes a collective responsibility.
The traditional leader’s day is commemorated yearly in every province.
The commemorations started in 2010.
Indonsakusa-New Ziana
