Mnangagwa Vows to Improve Military Welfare
In a speech at the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day commemorations, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has thanked the Zimbabwean military for remaining loyal to his rule. Mnangagwa, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, pledged housing and car loan incentives to cushion members from the country’s tough economic conditions.
The annual event, held at Rufaro Stadium in Harare, is marked by a military parade, aerial and ground stunts, and the awarding of merit medals. In his address, Mnangagwa urged the introduction of “robust military systems and Defence Forces that are continually evolving,” citing the “upsurge of terrorism and cross border crime, coupled with undue foreign interference in the internal affairs of countries, especially for us in the Global South and East.”
Mnangagwa also emphasized the need to enhance domestic military systems and cross-border military and security cooperation. Despite facing criticism from opponents for alleged rights violations, the president asserted that Zimbabwe under his administration “cherishes rights and freedoms” achieved upon the country’s independence from British colonial rule.
Reflecting on Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle, Mnangagwa highlighted Rufaro Stadium as an iconic venue, recalling the lowering of the Union Jack and the hoisting of the Zimbabwean flag on the eve of April 18, 1980, marking the birth of an independent and free Zimbabwe.
The president praised the “formidability, reliability, dependability, professionalism and discipline of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces,” describing them as the “guarantor of the peace and security necessary for the development, modernisation, industrialisation and prosperity of our nation.” He also acknowledged the negative effects of illegal sanctions imposed by some Western countries, but stated that the ZDF remains firm in its service to Zimbabwe.
Mnangagwa announced an array of strategies to improve the welfare of the defence forces, including the extension of Civil Service Housing Loans and the Civil Service Vehicle Purchase schemes. He also promised to expand the military’s transport fleet and construct 3,000 housing units for members of the defence forces. Additionally, Mnangagwa pledged to equip all military hospitals and health institutions with modern equipment and adequate medicines.
