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Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has dismissed social media messages saying it was embarking on a recruitment exercise starting next Monday.

ZNA Public Relations Director, Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore said the recruitment messages were false.

He said the army was concerned about the continued misuse of social media platforms by some criminal elements soliciting for payment in return for non-existent jobs in the army.

“As from Friday 10 March 2017, there were false social media notices to the effect that there will be a mass recruitment of the Zimbabwe National Army recruits throughout the country.  The army wishes to categorically emphasise that there is no such recruitment taking place. The ZNA would like to advise the public that it does not have recruitment agents and does not recruit through the social media,” said Lt Colonel Makotore.

“All ZNA recruitment programmes are advertised in the mainstream print and electronic media. Prospective applicants then respond through written applications after which selections are then carried out at the different military cantonments throughout all the country’s provinces.”

Lt Col Makotore said the criminal elements masquerading as recruitment agents are in no way representing the ZNA or any of its members.

“The ZNA would like to warn members of the public that these notices are fake and false, hence, they must be dismissed with the contempt they deserve,” he said.

Members of the public, Lt Col Makotore warned, must not be made to pay for having an interest to serve in the ZNA.

He said army recruitment personnel always carry out their duties in uniform and move around in teams not as individuals.

Lt Col Makotore said members of the public must ask for letters of authorisation and identity documents whenever they see suspicious persons claiming to be army recruiting officers.

“The public is urged to report any suspicious persons masquerading as members of the ZNA on recruitment exercises to the nearest Army Camp or Police Station,” he said.

Lt Col Makotore said the public is free to seek clarification from the Army Recruiting Office on (04) 707459 or Army Public Relations Directorate on (04) 700316 or Zimbabwe Military Police on (04)790591.

One of the fake messages invited people aged between 17 years and 22 years for a mass recruitment exercise as from March 20.

“There will be a mass recruitment of Zimbabwe National Army recruits countrywide Harare at Cranbone on 20 March, Mutare at 3 Brigade on 21 March, Masvingo on 22 March at 4 Brigade Bulawayo at Imbizo Barracks on 24 March Gweru at Stone Hill Air Force on 23 March.

“There will be a challenge of 10 km race and physical fitness will pre-requisite. Age 18 to 22 with a minimum of 5 O levels. Height must be 170 cm to boys and 155 cm to girl average weight 60kg,” reads one of the false messages.

The ZNA does not have an airbase called Stone Hill in Gweru, but Thornhill in that city.

— @Auxilia