ED Praises "Highly Professional" ZDF In Defence Forces Day Message

While delivering his virtual Defense Forces Day message President Mnangagwa highly praised the ZDF and called them all sorts of colourful names among them highly professional, peaceful, loyal, committed and dedicated, New Zimbabwe reports. Delivering the speech President Mnangagwa said:

This occasion is happening on the backdrop of successive accomplishments by our defence forces to defend our motherland Zimbabwe from detractors, divisive elements and enemies,” he said.

The commemorations which we are holding this year under the theme, ‘ZDF: Celebrating 40 Years of Excellent Service to the People,’ are taking place under yet another wave of aggression manifesting through illegal sanctions, hostile anti-Zimbabwe propaganda, mounted on social media platforms and other forms of asymmetrical warfare meant to break unity within our forces.

In executing its constitutional mandate, the ZDF has since its formation acquitted itself with distinction and high professionalism and for this they deserve a big compliment. Zimbabwe has continued to enjoy peace largely attributable to the ZDF’s vigilance, loyalty, commitment and dedication to their constitutional obligation of defending the country and its people.

The president could not, however, resist to take a jab at the opposition in the message and thanked the army for defending his administration against planned protests which have put Zimbabwe on the international spotlight for violating human rights and said:

Thank you once again for remaining calm and peaceful in the wake of some misguided calls for violent protests and demonstrations by opposition elements with support from foreign and civil society supporters and backers.

The president’s heap of praise to the ZDF comes on the backdrop of a massive public outcry over human rights abuses emanating from how security forces threatened, arrested, abducted and tortured would-be protestors, protest organisers and protestors. The outcry has drawn the attention of the international community and AU, which has also prompted South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa to send an envoy to Zimbabwe to discuss the issue of human rights abuses with the government and opposition parties.

More: New Zimbabwe