Zimbabwe National Army
| Zimbabwe National Army | |
|---|---|
National Army Flag
|
|
| Active | 18 April 1980 – present (37 years) |
| Country |
 Zimbabwe |
| Allegiance |
 Zimbabwe Defence Forces
|
| Type | Army |
| Size | 29,000 Active personnel 21,800 Reserve personnel 50,800 total |
| Part of | Joint High Command (1980-1981) Joint Operations Command (1981-present) |
| Motto(s) | "Our swords are the shield of the nation" |
| Colors | Green, Yellow |
| Anniversaries | Defence Forces Day (12 August) |
| Engagements |
|
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Commander in chief | President Robert Mugabe |
| Chief of the Army | Lt. Gen. Philip Valerio Sibanda |
| Chief of Staff, GS | Maj. Gen. Trust Mugova |
| Notable commanders |
Vitalis Zvinavashe Solomon Mujuru |
The Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) is the primary branch of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces responsible for land-oriented military operations. It is the largest service branch under the Zimbabwean Joint Operations Command (JOC). The modern army has its roots in the Rhodesian Army, which was raised between 1963 and 1964 after the breakup of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. A Joint High Command created in March 1980 to oversee integration of the formerly belligerent Rhodesian Security Forces, Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA), and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) officially established the Zimbabwe National Army in late 1980, nearly a year after the end of the Rhodesian Bush War.
The mission statement of the army is "to defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interests of Zimbabwe and to contribute to international peace and security". It is considered an integral component of the JOC, and falls under the ultimate authority of the President of Zimbabwe. The ZNA is directed by a Chief of the Army, the senior official being an Army Chief of Staff. Zimbabwe's highest ranking army officer is currently General Engelbert Rugeje. In 2011, Harare continued to maintain a statutory strength of 40,000 active personnel; actual numbers hover closer to 30,000. ZNA reserves claim another 21,800, putting the combined component strength total at approximately 50,800.
The origins of the Zimbabwe National Army lie in the formation of the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers in 1898, a mounted corps supported by bicycles, a signal troop, and engineers. Raised by colonial authorities to suppress further uprisings after the Second Matabele War, it included a "Western division" and an "Eastern division" staffed by European volunteers. Field outings were conducted in concert with the British South Africa Police (BSAP).
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Wikipedia