National Sports Stadium filled to capacity on Defence Forces Day

President Robert Mugabe says the government will always try to improve the working and living conditions of the defence forces.

Addressing thousands of people who gathered at the National Sports Stadium to commemorate the Zimbabwe Defence Forces 33rd anniversary paid tribute to the defence force for remaining resolute despite the challenges they were facing due to the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Britain and its western allies.

The grandstand at the National Heroes Acre failed to contain the multitudes who spilled over into the surrounding hillsides and treetops to follow proceedings.

Cheers, dancing and singing punctuated proceedings, paying tribute to Zanu-PF's resounding victory in the harmonised elections.

The crowd went into delirium once President Mugabe's motorcade arrived at the shrine.

Chants of "Gushungo, Gushungo, bhora mughedhi" reverberated at the national shrine.

As early as 7am, people had begun streaming into the National Heroes Acre with those interviewed hailing the sacrifices of the heroes and heroines who liberated Zimbabwe.

Zanu-PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo paid tribute to the huge crowd, describing the turnout as tremendous.

"We are pleased and excited with the turnout. This is tremendous and expected following our victory," he said.

The President said: "Conditions of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces like those of the civil servants have remained far below expected standards. Their salaries and allowances have remained below the poverty datum line.

The illegal sanctions have resulted in inadequate budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Defence. The government will pursue possible ways of improving these challenges."

The President paid tribute to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for being a reliable pillar of the government throughout the 33 years of independence, ensuring peace and stability in the nation.

He appealed to peace loving Zimbabweans to work together with the defence force to fight renewed attempts by the former colonisers to recolonise the country.

President Mugabe said this year's theme: 'Zimbabwe Defence Forces, in defence of national sovereignty, social and economic development,' is relevant to the country as they travel around consolidating the gains of the hard-won independence.

He said: "The theme is more relevant in consolidating the gains of our hard-won independence. They (the British) failed to frustrate our noble efforts to consolidate our economic independence.

"The indigenisation and economic empowerment policy will continue."

President Mugabe said the country's detractors have failed to frustrate noble efforts and determination to consolidate the country's economic independence, as empowerment continues unabated to ensure Zimbabweans enjoy a larger share of the country's resources.

He said the nation has granted his government a resounding mandate in governance and will do everything to ensure the empowerment project is fully realised.