Source: The Herald – Breaking news.
Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) yesterday said it was concerned over the misuse of its uniforms and recent utterances on social media by some members of the public, including retired members, on their individual political and economic wishes on the situation in the country.
In a statement, the ZDF said it was critical for those involved to stop making such claims as they “may unfortunately be misconstrued to be the position of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces”.
“The public is hereby advised that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces have established channels of communicating with the public and social media is not one of them. The Zimbabwe Defence Forces therefore dissociate themselves from all social media utterances emanating from the public including some retired members.
“The Zimbabwe Defence Forces further note with concern, the continued misuse of military uniform by some members of the public,” reads the statement.
The public was advised that according to the Defence Act (Chapter 11:02), the abuse of military uniform is an offence which prohibits and criminalises the wearing of military uniform by individuals who are not members of the Defence Forces.
Section 99 (2) (c) of the Defence Act (Chapter 11:02) further states that: “Any person who without authority wears or uses any decoration supplied to or authorised for use by any member of the Defence Forces or other military forces or any decoration so nearly resembling such decoration as to be likely to deceive shall be guilty of an offence.”
Added the ZDF: “Members of the public are therefore urged to desist from acquiring or wearing any items of military uniform or apparel resembling such. “Those caught on the wrong side of the law will be prosecuted. Members of the public are also urged to report to the Zimbabwe Republic Police or the Zimbabwe Military Police any persons seen wearing military uniforms outside cantonment and other designated areas, or those committing crimes on the pretext that they are members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
“In this regard, the Zimbabwe Defence Forces appeal to members of the public to report anyone known to be a civilian but wearing military uniform for whatever reason.”
Anyone who might have complaints to make against criminals abusing ZDF attire should contact their call centres on cellphone numbers 0712842318 and 0716801064 or landline numbers (0242) 252094 and (0242) 791129
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