ABOUT THE MINISTRY

The Ministry of Defence is tasked with providing the political leadership, legislative authority and financial resources to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. It is the Command and Control center that provides guidance and a conducive environment that enables the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to attend to and fulfill their mandate as the guarantors of the country's peace, tranquility and stability unfettered by any political or legal constraints.

Pursuant to this noble endeavor, the ministry oversees and ensures the ultimate implementation of issues relating to the establishment, command, administration, organisation, duties, conditions of service, training, co-operation with other Military Forces, and utilisation of land for defence purposes, among other issues.

The ministry is also tasked with interpreting and executing Zimbabwe's Defence Policy, which is premised on self-defence, taking into cognisance the political climate obtaining in a country and that of other countries in the region. Above all, the ministry has to take into account the overriding desire for lasting peace and stability on the continent and throughout the world.

The Minister of defence heads the ministry, below him is the Permanent Secretary for Defence who is the principal officer for civilian staff and the Commander Defence Forces who heads the Defence Forces Headquarters.

ROLES AND ORGANISATION OF MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

The Defence Forces Headquarters (ZDF HQ) is a merger of the Army, Air force senior officers, men and women plus a compliment of public civil service personnel, which forms or constitutes the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The term MOD denotes the integrated set up or a conglomeration of staff drawn from different government departments in the ministry where the civil service and the military personnel jointly interact and work together in the execution of all matters relevant to national defence thereby making it more efficient and coherent service provider. The MOD deals with policy issues, while the implementation of defence tasks and duties are left to the Service headquarters.

The concept of an integrated MOD came about as a result of an in depth study carried out in 1992 and was based on the evolution of the ZDF over the first 10 years of its existence where it became manifested that there existed deficiencies in our operational and constitutional systems that militated against unity, singularity of purpose and economic use of resources. Prior to 1993, the MOD was wholly manned by civil service staff and a little military liaison staff. As a result of pressure brought about by the need to centrally control operations of the Army, Air Force and the Civil Service component, the ZDF HQ was established in 1994 through an Act of Parliament. This Act effectively empowered the Minister of Defence by enhancing his power over the Defence Forces whilst at the same time strengthening the ZDF. This structural concept conforms well with international norms and practices. It also enhances accountability of resources at the disposal of the defence establishment and promotes civil - military relations.

Among other tasks and roles that can be given to it by the Government of Zimbabwe the roles of MOD are defined as follows:

• To implement and regulate as necessary the Zimbabwe National Defence and grand strategy in close consultation with relevant government departments and agencies.
• To ensure economic and efficient use of resources allocated to it by government.
• To coordinate assistance requested of it by other government departments and civil authorities as necessary.
• To coordinate joint Army and Air Force operations.