The Sunday News
Munyaradzi Musiiwa, Midlands Correspondent
COLONEL Arnold Gumbo has been appointed new commandant for Zimbabwe Military Academy (ZMA) in Gweru taking over from Colonel Stephen Gwekwerere.
Zimbabwe National Army Chief of Staff General Staff Major-General Trust Mugoba witnessed the handover- takeover by the two colonels at the ZMA in Gweru on Friday.
Addressing officers during the handover-takeover ceremony, Col Gwekwerere said ZMA was the beacon of hope for the future of Zimbabwe National Army commanders.
“May I underscore the fact that the academy is the beacon of hope for the future of Zimbabwe National Army commanders as it is the only entry point and the genesis of a long journey into the officers’ corps. It is the home of military excellence and one of the few military institutions that only His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe takes time off his busy schedule to come and commission the cadets at the end of their course,” he said.
Col Gumbo was attested into ZNA in 1980 after Independence after having participated in the liberation struggle. Col Gumbo worked as staff officer at the ZNA headquarters and later became a member of the directing staff at the Zimbabwe Staff College where he was commanding the 2:2 Infantry Battalion. He was once chief instructor at ZMA from 2007 to 2009 and later became Chief Instructor at Zimbabwe Staff College before coming to ZMA as commandant.
