By Dickson Bandera
The Zimbabwe National Defence University (ZNDU) held its sixth graduation ceremony this Friday, with 205 students receiving degrees and diplomas across its three academic arms — the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Faculty of Engineering, and the Centre for Defence and Security Studies.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in his capacity as Chancellor of the Zimbabwe National Defence University, officially capped the graduands during the ceremony, which was graced by the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, and the Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Province, among other senior government officials.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chancellor Professor Tedzani Moyo described graduation as “an important event because it marks the climax of many years of study, the investment and sacrifices made by governments, sponsored by nations, parents, guardians, families, and other stakeholders in the tertiary education sector.”
Of the 205 graduates, 155 were male while 50 were female, representing 25 percent of the total. The Faculty of Social Sciences accounted for 160 graduates, the Centre for Defence and Security Studies 32, and the Faculty of Engineering 13.
Professor Moyo said the university has seen steady growth in academic offerings but expressed concern over relatively low student enrolment.
“This has witnessed a steady growth in academic programs with somehow lower enrollment levels… the university’s total enrollment was 708 students,” he said, attributing this to “stiff competition for students from other well-established universities.”
“In this regard, the university is boosting its marketing capacity in order to attract more students,” he added.
The 2025 graduation class included 32 participants from National Defence Course 13/2024. The cohort comprised officers from the Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service, as well as nine allied participants from Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, Kenya, Botswana, Malawi, and South Africa.
“It is pleasing to note that four of the participants are female officers from the Zimbabwe National Army, the Air Force of Zimbabwe, and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service,” Professor Moyo said.
The course included a domestic study tour in October 2024 and an international tour that split the cohort into two groups. One visited Senegal, Cuba and Indonesia, while the other travelled to Cuba, Uganda, and Congo Brazzaville.
“The Cuba participants were able to experience the Cuban national character, which is an embodiment of defiance, patriotism, and resilience in the face of years of sustaining illegal economic sanctions,” said Moyo. “Similarly, Senegal and Indonesia offered invaluable lessons of patriotism with the preference of national currencies over the usage of foreign currencies.”
On Uganda, he said, “Participants were hosted by and interacted with His Excellency, the President of Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni, who delivered a lecture focusing on prosperity, modernization, effective security, and brotherhood in Africa.”
In Congo Brazzaville, the group “was exposed to modern, regional, and global surveillance systems for early warning purposes.”
The Vice Chancellor also lamented the low enrolment of government ministries and agencies in the National Defence Course.
“The National Defence University continues to note the low subscription levels of students by government ministries, departments, and other agencies,” he said.
“The National Defence Course provides a platform for senior government officials and military officers to train together at the strategic level on issues of national security.”
Meanwhile, the Faculty of Social Sciences now offers a broad range of programs, including the Master of Science in International Studies, Conflict Prevention and Early Warning Mechanisms, Defence and Security Studies, the Bachelor of Science in Security and Disaster Management, and several diploma courses.
“The Faculty of Social Sciences has grown in leaps and bounds,” said Professor Moyo. “Program regulations for the Master of Philosophy and the Doctor of Philosophy are currently with ZIMCHE for consideration. The Master of Science in Security and Disaster Management has since been approved.”
He added that the Faculty of Engineering was “steadily growing with the creation of new departments and programs,” notably in Aeronautical Sciences, Computer Science, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
“The Faculty is offering the Master of Science in Social Engineering, the Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, the Bachelor of Science in Aviation Sciences — that is Aircraft Systems and Operations — and the Bachelor of Science in Aviation Sciences and Traffic Management,” he said.
The Zimbabwe National Defence University continues to position itself as a leading institution for national security, development studies and regional cooperation.
