By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Harare – The Zimbabwe Defence Forces continues to contribute towards nation building and this week, a major milestone in educational infrastructure was celebrated as it officially handed over a newly completed double-storey classroom block to Warren Park 6 Primary School in Harare.
The facility, consisting of eight classrooms, is expected to provide learning space for over 400 pupils.
The handover ceremony was led by Lieutenant General Emmanuel Matatu, Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army, who represented the overall ZDF Commander, General Phillip Valerio Sibanda. The event came just ahead of the ZDF’s annual Community Assistance Week, held in the lead-up to the national ZDF Day.
Construction of the classroom block began in 2017, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Work resumed in 2022, with the project eventually completed through a joint effort between the ZDF and the Warren Park community. The school’s development committee supplied materials, while the military provided skilled manpower.
Lieutenant General Matatu highlighted the significance of such projects, noting the strong ties between the military and the communities they serve.
“As members of the ZDF, we come from these communities and return to them after service. It’s only fitting that we contribute to their development,” he said.
He added that the ZDF would be handing over several completed projects across the country during this year’s Community Assistance Week. These include classroom blocks, clinics, and a hostel, reflecting the Defence Forces’ broader role in national development.
In Harare Metropolitan Province alone, three key projects have been finalized by the Presidential Guard, including the new block at Warren Park 6 Primary, an Early Childhood Development facility at Gillingham Primary School in Dzivaresekwa, and a third project to be unveiled in the coming days.
Permanent Secretary for Harare Metropolitan Province, Mr. Cosmas Chiringa, praised the initiative, saying it aligns with national goals under Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy.
“This kind of collaboration between the military and local communities helps create better learning environments and uplifts the standard of living,” he said.
Warren Park 6 Primary School, established in 1994, now has an enrolment of approximately 1,700 pupils, mostly from the surrounding areas of Kuwadzana, Warren Park, and Cold Comfort Farm. The new facility is expected to ease congestion and improve education delivery.
In addition to infrastructure development, the ZDF is also partnering with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to provide free medical services through outreach programmes, which will be conducted as part of the Community Assistance Week activities.
Last year, eight community projects were completed and handed over during this annual initiative, reaffirming the ZDF’s ongoing commitment to supporting Zimbabwean communities beyond its core security mandate.