By Flata Kavinga
The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) says its fun shoot programme provides an opportunity for the military to engage local communities, familiarise civilians with military operations and promote public understanding of national defence and security.
5 Infantry Brigade, Ngezi Barracks commander Brigadier General Lawrence Munzararikwa said the initiative was designed to bring members of the public into a controlled military environment, where they could learn about the army’s equipment and operations.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the ZNA Fun Shoot at Ngezi Barracks in Kwekwe, Munzararikwa said the programme helped demystify military life and encouraged greater interaction between the army and civilians.
“This fun shoot is authorised by the Zimbabwe National Army Command Element. It gives us an opportunity to interact with our local communities in the context of a semi-military environment where they are exposed to our tools of trade,” he said.
Munzararikwa said participants were also given an opportunity to experience the military environment in a recreational setting, including supervised exposure to the army’s weapon systems.
He said the initiative was intended to build confidence among community members and encourage them to appreciate the role of the military in defending the country.
“When we interact with them, they usually spend this time to get adjusted and also to create and build the necessary confidence that is required for national defence,” he said.
Munzararikwa added that exposure to military activities could help communities better understand the values associated with national defence and security.
Kwekwe businessman Dr Solomon Matsa, who participated in the event, said the experience had given him a better appreciation of the army’s work and the importance of cooperation between the military and civilians.
“My personal experience is profound and very interactive. When you meet your army, you don’t know what they do. But for the first time, I had a real experience on the ground,” Matsa said.
He said the event reinforced the importance of collective responsibility in national development and security, invoking the Shona expression, “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” (a country is built by its own people).
“We learnt a lot,” he said.
The fun shoot brought military personnel and members of the local community together, providing a platform for interaction outside the army’s routine operational environment.
