Robert Gabriel Mugabe School of Intelligence students graduate

The Robert Gabriel Mugabe School of Intelligence (RGMSI) , which is an associate of the Bindura University of Science Education, held its inaugural graduation ceremony in the capital this Friday morning at a colourful ceremony attended by representatives of sister security forces colleges, leaders of parastatal organisations as well as the academia.
 
The graduation ceremony saw 31 graduands receiving diplomas in intelligence and security after a two year period of study covering 19 different courses.
 
The intelligence school also offers a four year degree programme in the same field. The programmes were launched on the 28th of August 2007 when the school was given associate status by the Bindura University of Science Education.

The programmes are aimed at giving an opportunity to those who may have failed to further their education due to work commitment or due their participation in the liberation struggle, to improve and advance their education.

Addressing graduands and guests at the ceremony, Central Intelligence Organisation Director-General, Happyton Bonyongwe said the Robert Gabriel Mugabe School of Intelligence is not just an institution of learning, but it is also the guardian of values that continue to shape intelligence and security officers who must play a critical role in defending the gains of Zimbabwe's revolution.

He urged the security and intelligence officers in the country to always bear in mind that their organisation is vital to ensure the survival and the furthering of national interests.

Bonyongwe said an alert and vibrant intelligence service is vital to ensure that the machinations and threats of detractors do not come to fruition before contingency and counter measures are put in place.

He stressed that the Central Intelligence Organisation's investment in capacity building is in cognisance of the fact that as a state, Zimbabwe is often confronted by threats that leaves it with no choice except to defend itself.

"The two programmes primarily targeted senior CIO officers who had missed the opportunities to advance themselves academically, due to pressing work and other commitments, including participating in the armed struggle.....these two programmes have become a natural platform for staff development and capacity building for not only intelligence and security officer, but the programme is also open to members of the public.

"The Department of State for National Security has its other core business classified courses which are run by the RGMSI. These are not open to the public. The Diploma in Intelligence and Security Studies targets officers with five O-level subjects. The diploma can then be used for entry into the degree programme," said Bonyongwe.

Speaking at the same ceremony, the Robert Gabriel Mugabe School of Intelligence Commandant, Mr Fulton Mangwanya said the school's diploma programme is the first of its kind in the SADC region as it is an urgent intervention to challenge the neoliberal curriculum which has continued to be embedded in African education systems after the colonial era.

The curriculum at the RGMSI aims at fostering knowledge systems and skills that are rooted in the philosophy of patriotism and broad arena of defending the sovereignty of African states.

Intelligence chiefs from different national levels, and stakeholders who included the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, ZESA, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Air Zimbabwe and others, attended the ceremony.