The Defence forces day, is a day set aside to honour the
men and women who have dedicated themselves to defend our nation.
The defence forces form the backbone of any nation and ours
is no exception. Indeed, our national constitution (through Sections 211 and
212) recognises the role and significance of the defence forces in our body
politic, in safeguarding our territorial integrity.
We salute and duly recognize the unstinting and committed
service that our patriotic soldiers continue to render to their beloved
country, even under these extremely difficult circumstances. As a nation, we
fought a just war of liberation, and the dedication, sacrifice and patriotism
of the sons and daughters of this land deserves our veneration and utmost
respect.
We are thankful to the men and women in uniform for the
sacrifices and service to the nation in fulfilling their constitutional mandate
and national duty. Over the years, our defence forces have earned accolades for
the work they have performed on international duty, in peace-keeping missions
across the world.
We honour them for raising the national flag.
They have also done fantastic community work in our rural
areas, and their recent efforts in the wake of Cyclone Idai deserve special
mention. This indeed is the kind of work that endears the defence forces to the
public.
Whilst our constitution recognises the key role of the
defence forces, it also lays down the foundation for a smooth relationship with
other branches of our body politic, setting the boundaries of what they can or
cannot do. This is why we continue to encourage our defence forces to uphold
the values of professionalism, respect, forbearance and non-partisanship.
We know that the majority of our defence forces are bound
and are faithful to their oaths as defenders of the nation. The few who stray
beyond the lines of professionalism should never be allowed to taint the entire
institution.
This taint can be cleansed by holding to account those who
have strayed away from their constitutional prescriptions. Regrettably, we have
lost innocent lives in the past year at the hands of such elements.
We echo public and international sentiment of
accountability for these losses to prevent a culture of impunity and immunity.
Considering the recent killings of civilians on the 1st of
August 2018 and around the 15th of January, which has eroded the confidence of
our people, I would like to encourage our Defence Forces to swiftly address
concerns about impartiality on partisan politics, respect for human rights and
subordination to civilian authority as enshrined under our constitution.
To this end, I am quite encouraged by the comments made by
the National Army Commander, Lieutenant General Edzai Absolom Chanyuka
Chimonyo, and Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Philip Valerio
Sibanda.
Both Generals have recently and passionately spoken about
the need for a professional, disciplined and non-partisan Defence Force which protects
Zimbabwe, its citizens, its national security, its interests, its territorial
integrity and more importantly, to uphold the Constitution of the land.
We remember with a profound sense of humility the songs of
liberation such as Nzira dzemasoja and Tinoda Zimbabwe neupfumi hwayo hwese,
great motivational anthems that also constitute a code of conduct for our
defence forces.
The core message being: treat the people with respect.
When our constitution behoves the defence forces to respect
human rights and freedoms, it is merely restating these organic commandments
with deep-seated roots.
Therefore, as we celebrate and honour the defence forces,
we call upon our men and women in uniform to uphold, defend and respect the
core values that helped our forebears to prosecute the liberation struggle
together with and not against the people.
They said they were fish and the people were the water. It
was true then and it is true today and always.
We know our men and women are not spared by the economic
and social challenges that we are facing as a nation. They are our brothers,
our sisters, fathers and mothers to some and uncles and aunties to others. They
are our brothers and sisters in law to all of us.
In short, they are people like us, facing the same darkness
when electricity is down, the same anxiety when the new school term begins and
there is no money for school fees. They are, like many of us, breadwinners
without the bread; wage earners with eroding wages.
When we express ourselves, we are also doing it on their
behalf; on behalf of and with their families, friends and neighbours, singing
songs of freedom and prosperity that they cannot sing on account of their job.
Poverty, like rain falls upon every roof. However poverty
is not a natural phenomenon. But since it is made by humankind, it can be
overcome by humankind too, through working together in unison.
Going forward, in a truly New Zimbabwe, under our new
leadership, we envisage a defence forces that is built on a foundation of
meritocracy, patriotism and professionalism, where service, merit and
excellence take precedence.
We aspire for a new Zimbabwe in which there is mutual
respect between our defence forces and members of the public. In our New
Zimbabwe, the military forces will be well-equipped, well-fed and
well-remunerated.
The relationship between the military and politicians will
be characterised by professionalism, progressiveness and non-partisanship,
allowing military men and women to flourish and defend the nation with pride.
Politics will guide the gun and the ballot will manage the
bullet.
In a New Zimbabwe, our military will not be owned or
appropriated by any political party. The army is above partisan politics. Our
military will be nonpartisan.
Our national army is people’s force.
We salute our men and women in uniform. You are the pride
of the nation.
Let me assure you all about my unwavering support for the
Zimbabwe Defence Forces and my vision for a great, peaceful and prosperous
country for all who live in it.
MDC President
Adv Nelson Chamisa
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