Zimpapers Logo

Lieutenant General Philip Sibanda

Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Reporter
MEMBERS of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) arrived in South Africa yesterday morning for an African Union peace keeping training exercise code named Amani Africa Two which begins on Monday.

This was said by ZNA commander Lieutenant General Philip Sibanda at a prize-giving ceremony for the inter-formations and units drill competitions held yesterday at Bulawayo District (1 Infantry Brigade).

Lieut Gen Sibanda said Amani Africa Two is a continental exercise hosted by Sadc but it incorporates troops from other parts of Africa.

“A total of 145 men and women, inclusive of the exercise commander and other officials from our country have joined the rest of Africa on a peace-keeping exercise. The training exercise intends to check on inter-operability of various armies and it brings together the various regional groups in

Africa. This training also checks on how far we have gone towards operationalisation as regional and continental troops,” he said.

He said the word Amani is Swahili for peace.

“The force under training is more than 1000 troops and it starts on Monday ending mid-November. Just to add on, our country is so much prepared for deployment, wherever, whenever, if need arises,” Lt Gen Sibanda said.

The inter-formation and drill competitions encompassing 30 platoons with more than 1,000 participants from all over the country ran for two weeks ending today.

Lieut Gen Sibanda said in line with his training directive for 2015, this year’s theme was “fostering the retention of high standards of military discipline, turnout and cohesion through drill”.

“The formations were given a challenge of providing an ideal platform for the assessment and improvement of the standard of drill, turnout and discipline of all ZNA members.

“At the same time, this was an opportunity for commanders at all levels to assess and improve the general standard of drill for their members,” he said.

Lieut Gen Sibanda said drill is the cornerstone of discipline in any given army and it is discipline that separates a regular army from a rag tag movement of armed men.

”With drill, comes discipline which is the ability to obey orders without orders. My training directives over the years have always placed drill and discipline as the basis on which all our operational ability rests.

“This is the third time the drilling competition has been held and this year’s competition witnessed a higher standard of drill being exhibited by all the participants,” he said.

Lieut Gen Sibanda said since the country is still reeling under the effects of illegal sanctions, “resources will seldom be adequate to our expectations and so soldiers will have to make do with what is available”.

“A lot of initiative and resourcefulness is therefore expected from you as members of the ZNA. As an organisation, we remain confident that the socio-economic environment will continue to improve in response to ZimAsset and 10- point plan which was designed by the government to give impetus to economic growth,” said the army chief.