Blessing Nduku
With a strong emphasis on duty, honor, and devotion, the President of Zimbabwe Cde Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, inspired the 202 Regular Officer Cadet Course 3/40/23 on their passout held at the Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA) to serve with purpose and devotion, as they take on their new roles in the military.
The cadets comprised 54 females and 148 males.
Addressing the graduates, President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged the new officers to uphold the values of discipline, loyalty, and patriotism as they embark on their new journey in the country’s defense forces.
“The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) has the sacred duty to uphold the Constitution of Zimbabwe. You, the new crop in our militaries, must guarantee regional peace and security.
Never take this lightly and remain guided by our long regional mantra: an injury to one is an injury to all.
”Military service demands the highest levels of professionalism, unflinching patriotism, loyalty and discipline. The call of duty always comes first.
President Mnangagwa urged the Academy to expose cadets to emerging technology in warfare.
“These young officers diligently undertook the course programme, which was divided into three phases being basic military training, conventional warfare and low-intensity operations.
”Given the emerging centrality of technology in modern warfare, I challenge the Academy to deliberately expose our officer cadets to new fields, including Artificial Intelligence and how these impact the defense and security sector. The ROC 3/40/23 is the 40th course to graduate at the Academy since 1980.”
“The completion of this course symbolises the end of a demanding journey that began on 18 September 2023.“Commandant ZMA Brigadier General Chrispen Nduku said that female representation has increased from last year. In line with gender inclusion policies among the graduands passing out are 54 females who endured the rigorous training of this course, an increase from 44 from the last course.”
“Brig General Nduku said the Academy is also proud of contributing to collective security in the region as the pass-out parade has two officers from the Eswatini Defence Force of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The presence of these Allied students is a testament of the richness and depth of the Academy’s training programmes.
Joint training is also a key ingredient for the successful execution of joint and multinational operations.
The ZMA has a rich history dating back over a century.
Originally, the camp served as both a training ground for various military personnel and a supply depot.
Throughout the years, the academy underwent name changes that aligned with the camp’s evolving tasks and the political context of each era.
In 2010, the Academy achieved associate status with the Midlands State University (MSU), leading to the establishment of the Diploma in Military Training and Education program.
The Academy has made significant strides in broadening its scope and vision.
A crucial milestone was achieved in 2024 when the Cadet Wing transformed into a division, enabling the academy to provide degree programs to cadets.
