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Only 17 people made the
cut to join the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) last week at Chikombedzi, despite
the army relaxing its entry requirements for marginalised communities, an
official has said.
cut to join the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) last week at Chikombedzi, despite
the army relaxing its entry requirements for marginalised communities, an
official has said.
Chiredzi South MP, Rtd
Brig Gen Calisto Gwanetsa said only 17 people from Chiredzi qualified after
other pre-requisites such as physical fitness, aptitudes test and body mass
index-related to body and capability of being a soldier were waived.
Brig Gen Calisto Gwanetsa said only 17 people from Chiredzi qualified after
other pre-requisites such as physical fitness, aptitudes test and body mass
index-related to body and capability of being a soldier were waived.
Standard requirements
for the intake were five ‘O’ level subjects, but Chiredzi just like Binga,
Kezi, Maphisa, Mbire and other border areas, were exempted due to their
dispositions, with candidates having a minimum of two subjects allowed to
attest.
for the intake were five ‘O’ level subjects, but Chiredzi just like Binga,
Kezi, Maphisa, Mbire and other border areas, were exempted due to their
dispositions, with candidates having a minimum of two subjects allowed to
attest.
Other requirements were
that those from Chiredzi would be given preference and only those with national
registration numbers starting and ending with 14 were considered.
that those from Chiredzi would be given preference and only those with national
registration numbers starting and ending with 14 were considered.
“The age limit was
between 18 and 22 and preferably those who sat for Ordinary Level exams between
2017 and 2018. Those with Advanced Levels were being considered for officer
cadets and artisan positions, but strictly on regional basis.
between 18 and 22 and preferably those who sat for Ordinary Level exams between
2017 and 2018. Those with Advanced Levels were being considered for officer
cadets and artisan positions, but strictly on regional basis.
“Despite all the
exemptions, very few met those requirements. They tried by all means to favour
those from the rural areas of Chiredzi, but to no avail. They even went to the
extent of saying those from Chiredzi who sat for exams outside Chiredzi and in
particular in major urban centres were not considered, but that did not help
(either),” Gwanetsa said.
exemptions, very few met those requirements. They tried by all means to favour
those from the rural areas of Chiredzi, but to no avail. They even went to the
extent of saying those from Chiredzi who sat for exams outside Chiredzi and in
particular in major urban centres were not considered, but that did not help
(either),” Gwanetsa said.
He said out of seven
wards in his constituency, only four have secondary educational qualifications
and most of the people do not have primary documents.
wards in his constituency, only four have secondary educational qualifications
and most of the people do not have primary documents.
“We have been
harping on the same string about how people from Chiredzi are critically
neglected and marginalised, but to no avail. If we do not have people with two
Ordinary Level passes, do you then expect us to have teachers or nurses from
the area? I think it is important for us to continue encouraging our communities
to go to school.
harping on the same string about how people from Chiredzi are critically
neglected and marginalised, but to no avail. If we do not have people with two
Ordinary Level passes, do you then expect us to have teachers or nurses from
the area? I think it is important for us to continue encouraging our communities
to go to school.
“Remember my
constituency borders Mozambique and South Africa, so most children skip the
border after completing Grade Seven to look for employment (in neighbouring
countries),” Gwanetsa said.
constituency borders Mozambique and South Africa, so most children skip the
border after completing Grade Seven to look for employment (in neighbouring
countries),” Gwanetsa said.
Zim Sentinel
