| 5th Brigade gets new commander Wednesday, February 22, 2006 Herald Reporter BRIGADIER-GENERAL John Mupande is the new commander of the 5th Brigade, the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) announced in a statement yesterday. Brig-Gen Mupande takes over from Brig-Gen Sibangamuzi Khumalo, who is now the Director of Army Training. The two one-star generals have just exchanged chairs, as Brig-Gen Mupande was the Director of Army Training before taking his new post. Also new to the formation is Major Martin Sibanda, who took over from the then Major Stephen Moyo, now a Lieutenant-Colonel and commanding officer of 32 Infantry Battalion. The army said Lieutenant Tichafa Mungofa becomes the brigade public relations officer, replacing Warrant Officer Class One Mark Mpofu, who is now a Retired Major. Brig-Gen Mupande said he was not new to the formation as he was one of the founding officers of the 5th brigade in 1981 during which time, the Air Force of Zimbabwe Commander, Air Marshal Perence Shiri, then Colonel and later Brigadier-General, was the formation commander. "I am now back home. This brigade is my home. It is really an honour to come back home and command a brigade with a rich history," he said. Brig-Gen Mupande chronicled the unparalleled successes achieved by the brigade that included, among others, its participation in the Mozambique campaign which marked a turning point in that country’s civil war that ended in 1992 and ultimately led to the peace Maputo enjoys now. "The brigade is one of the best, which, from its formation, bred great military leaders," he said, referring to the Commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Constantine Chiwenga, who led the brigade from 1984 to 1987. Brig-Gen Mupande urged officers of the brigade to be disciplined and exemplary wherever they were, respecting the people of the Midlands Province as they ranked high among the brigade’s priorities in its mandate of defending the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interest. He said the brigade would strive to make sure a good working relationship with locals existed and was sustained. Brig-Gen Mupande also emphasised on training which, he said, formed the basis on which military skills were attained, adding that training was the business of most, if not all, armies during peacetime in preparation for the unknown. |
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