News / National
Zimbabwe soldiers warned against social media abuse
10 Nov 2015 at 10:12hrs | Views
MEMBERS of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces as well as the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) have been warned against abusing social media as this may have security implications for the country.
The ZDF director of operations and plans Fannie Brigadier General Rhonnie Mutizhe told 155 Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) members who concluded eight technical courses run at the school of signals at Imbizo barracks on Friday that social media can be used in cyber warfare.
"As you handle and manage organisational information on a daily basis, I want you to always rethink of the security implications as presented by the internet, cellphone technology and the advanced electronic gadgets now in use as part of cyber warfare," he said
"From the detailed cyber warfare, communication security and electronic warfare packages covered dining your studies, you'll be aware that hostile intelligence services are always at work trying to obtain sensitive information about Zimbabwe in general and the ZNA in particular."
He said the knowledge gained during the studies enables the soldiers to effectively command any signals troops and maintain all the signals equipment in the organisation.
Brig Gen Mutizhe said the importance of communication in the military cannot be over emphasised as it is common knowledge that sound communications are pivotal to the success of any operation.
A week earlier, the ZPCS Deputy Commissioner General Fadzai Mupure told 82 graduating officers at Ntabazinduna Prisons Training School on the threats posed by social media.
Deputy Comm Gen Mupure said prison officers were fond of posting their grievances online instead of following laid down procedures in the service.
"We've officers especially the young ones. They don't want to follow procedures. They might be having differences with their superiors and instead of following procedures they just go online and post their grievances," she said.
She said such behaviour would not be tolerated.
"I also wish to take this opportunity to strongly denounce the engagement into corruption activities by members of the staff, as well as abuse of social media," said Deputy Comm Gen Mupure.
She said corruption and abuse of social media was contributing to the negative perception on the institution by members of the public.
"Such developments don't only put the offender's personal image into disrepute but also tarnishes the organisation's image. Corruption has proved to be a cancer in the service and country at large. Apart from tarnishing the individual's social standing, corruption also negates the country's socioeconomic growth and development. This development needs serious attention so that we nip it in the bud," she said.
Mupure said those who will be found wanting will be charged with misconduct.
"I strongly urge those involved in such nefarious deeds to immediately desist from such acts of indiscipline and misconduct before the law descends on them," she said
The ZDF director of operations and plans Fannie Brigadier General Rhonnie Mutizhe told 155 Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) members who concluded eight technical courses run at the school of signals at Imbizo barracks on Friday that social media can be used in cyber warfare.
"As you handle and manage organisational information on a daily basis, I want you to always rethink of the security implications as presented by the internet, cellphone technology and the advanced electronic gadgets now in use as part of cyber warfare," he said
"From the detailed cyber warfare, communication security and electronic warfare packages covered dining your studies, you'll be aware that hostile intelligence services are always at work trying to obtain sensitive information about Zimbabwe in general and the ZNA in particular."
He said the knowledge gained during the studies enables the soldiers to effectively command any signals troops and maintain all the signals equipment in the organisation.
Brig Gen Mutizhe said the importance of communication in the military cannot be over emphasised as it is common knowledge that sound communications are pivotal to the success of any operation.
A week earlier, the ZPCS Deputy Commissioner General Fadzai Mupure told 82 graduating officers at Ntabazinduna Prisons Training School on the threats posed by social media.
"We've officers especially the young ones. They don't want to follow procedures. They might be having differences with their superiors and instead of following procedures they just go online and post their grievances," she said.
She said such behaviour would not be tolerated.
"I also wish to take this opportunity to strongly denounce the engagement into corruption activities by members of the staff, as well as abuse of social media," said Deputy Comm Gen Mupure.
She said corruption and abuse of social media was contributing to the negative perception on the institution by members of the public.
"Such developments don't only put the offender's personal image into disrepute but also tarnishes the organisation's image. Corruption has proved to be a cancer in the service and country at large. Apart from tarnishing the individual's social standing, corruption also negates the country's socioeconomic growth and development. This development needs serious attention so that we nip it in the bud," she said.
Mupure said those who will be found wanting will be charged with misconduct.
"I strongly urge those involved in such nefarious deeds to immediately desist from such acts of indiscipline and misconduct before the law descends on them," she said
Source - chronicle
