Mugabe promotes Air Force officers

Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander-in-Chief President Mugabe has promoted an Air Force of Zimbabwe Group Captain to the rank of Air Com­modore and elevated nine Wing Com­manders to the rank of Group Captains.

The promotions are with immediate effect. AFZ Commander Air Marshal Perrence Shiri conferred Air Com­modore Dennis Jaricha and the nine Group Captains with their new ranks in Harare yesterday. The nine are Chistian Makuvire, Salisio Ganyure, George Ngundu, Raymond Mharapara, Patrick Moyo, Ishamel Kadenga, Ellisha Masakadza, Ekiron Madzanira and Munyaradzi Dobbie.

Air Marshal Shiri said the promotions were done on merit.

"Consideration for promotions in the Air Force of Zimbabwe is always based on an individual's merit and hard work. There is no favouritism as we try to identify the best officer for the job and we make recommendations, through the protocol, to the Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces."

Air Marshal Shiri urged the newly promoted officers to be "firm and fair" to their subordinates.

"Your responsibility now is to lead other officers," he said.

"Many people will now look up to you for leadership and as such be firm and fair to your juniors."

Air Marshal Shiri challenged the newly promoted officers to be ready for the new task.

"Your qualifications showed us that you are capable of occu­pying these positions and there is no doubt you will be competent enough to the new task. You will now be dealing with strategic policy issues and this needs more team work. You are new players in the team who we hope will be useful as we mould a powerful team to deliver the expecta­tions of the nation."

AFZ, Air Marshal Shiri said, was working hard to be gender sensitive.

"A lot of women lack confidence, but we now have a number of women occu­pying high ranks," he said.

"We are aware of the need to be gen­der sensitive and it means we have to deal with people's attitude towards women and also women's attitude towards challenging posts."

Following the promotion, Air Com­modore Jaricha will assume the post of Director General Administration at the AFZ headquarters. He was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army in 1980 as a Captain after receiving military training at Nyadzonia, Mozambique. He did a number of military courses and has held various posts since 1980. Air Commodore Jaricha is a seasoned administrator and resource person.