40 female cadet officers graduate from ZMA 

40 female cadet officers graduate from ZMA

Brian Rungano Temba

A total of 136 cadet officers graduated today from the Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA) in Gweru, 40 of them were female cadets.

The Commander In Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, His Excellency President Emerson Mnangagwa presided over the commissioning parade of the Regular Officer Cadet Course 3/38/22 at ZMA.

The Regular Officer Cadet Course Number 3/38/22 commenced on 10 January 2022 with an enrolment of 240 students, 177 males and 63 females. A total of 136 students completed the course, consisting of 96 males and 40 females, who graduated.

President Mnangagwa applauded the determination and drive of the girl child cadet officers.

“In line with the quest to ensure gender mainstreaming the 40 female graduands at this Parade are testimony that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces is giving equal opportunities to our female children. I call upon more girls to take up the inclusive approach being championed by the Second Republic and to participate in all spheres of life.

“I commend the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for continuing to recruit and train the girl child who are proving to be equally dedicated and competent to match their male counterparts and breaking the barriers I the previously male dominated military profession,” said President Mnangagwa.

President Mnangagwa reminded the graduands to keep sacred the oath of alligience they took during the parade to uphold the Constitution of Zimbabwe and abide by the rules and regulations, and attendent statutes that govern the ZDF.

He also told the graduands that the biggest enemy of the peace and sovereignty they have trained to defend is keen on undoing the fruits of Zimbabwe’s hard earned Independence.

“Today’s event is not happening in an isolated environment, but against the backdrop of the successful defence of our independence, sovereignty and freedom in the recently held 2023 Harmonised General Elections. This saw our people freely and peacefully exercise their democratic right to vote. In doing so, we collectively warded off the onslaught from detractors expressed through their foreign funded opposition parties” added President Mnangagwa.