THE NATIONAL DEFENCE POLICY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE:
The National Defence Policy of the Republic of Zimbabwe derives its legitimacy from the national Constitution of the country. This encapsulates the national purpose, values, national interests and priorities from which policies and programmes are then worked out, eventually leading to the enunciation of the National Security Strategy.
The constitutionally defined roles of the defence forces are:
- To Defend Zimbabwe's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests.
- To Participate in the creation of common regional security architecture.
- To Contribute to the maintenance of international peace and stability.
- To Provide military assistance to civil authority in times of need.
The Zimbabwean military, like that of any democratic country, is one of the elements identifying national values and security interests and as such, must complement, and not conflict with political, economic, social, demographic and informational elements of national power.
THE POLICY FORMULATION STRUCTURES
ZIMBABWE'S policy formulation structures are similar to those of any other democracy, that is the security and defence policies of any state are rooted in perceptions
of its interests and how best they may be protected and promoted. The supreme national policy formulating body is the National Security Council, responsible for pronouncing the National Security Policy. It is chaired by the President, and is basically composed of the entire Cabinet.
Specific to Defence Policy formulation, below the National Security Council, is the Defence Council, which is chaired by the President and Commander-in- chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, State Security, Defence, Home Affairs and Finance constitute the Council. The Service Chiefs and Director General Central Intelligence Organisation in the President's Office are ex-officio members. Its primary function is to generate and pronounce National Defence Policy.
Below the Defence Council is the Defence Committee, chaired by the Minister of Defence. It is composed
of the Permanent Secretary for Defence, Commander Defence Forces, Commander Zimbabwe National Army and Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe. The Committee can also incorporate representatives of other Security Ministries.
There are six Defence Staff Sub committees below the Defence Committee. These deal with Defence Policy, Operations, Programming and Planning, Manpower, Logistics, Acquisition and Equipment Approval. In short, policy recommendations and implementation reports flow upwards from the Defence Staff Sub committees, while policy directives flow downwards from the National Defence Council.
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