Zimbabwe Army changes recruitment policy

THE Zimbabwe National Army has changed its recruitment policy to accommodate previously disadvantaged groups that fail to qualify into the army. In an interview on the sidelines of a training exercise in Mutoko on Tuesday, Major General Martin Chedondo, said the national army must have a national outlook with people from all Zimbabwean villages.

"Our wise leaders realised that many wars in Africa are being caused by ethnocentrism where you have forces based on small groups of people who have cronies in power.

"ZNA through the wisdom of the country's leadership has decided to build a national army that portrays a nation.

"Every army intake is going to recruit potential soldiers from every village in all the country's provinces.

"This is a directive that we are going to strictly adhere to.

"In the areas where there are shortcomings be it academic, body make up, body mass index of particular society we are making exceptions and adjustments to accommodate them," he said.

He said previously there used to be complaints from people who were failing to join the army.

These complained that they were left out because they fell short of the required weight and height that would enable them to carry heavy military weights. Maj Gen Chedondo said continuous soldiers' training will ensure that they remain loyal, diligent and be the nation's shining beacon in terms of national defence.

"Now that soldiers are being recruited from every village, we want to see a village that will go against national values. We will not tolerate sellouts who would want to share the national cake with foreigners who were once our enemies and attackers," he added.