JT Deputy Commander Urges New Graduate Pilots to be Disciplined and Professional
By Dumisani Ndlovu — Air Force of Zimbabwe pilot graduates have been urged to uphold integrity, discipline and professionalism as they begin their military careers following the completion of the Number 70 Pilot Training Course.
Dumisani Ndlovu 
Gweru — Josiah Tungamirai (JT) Air Force Base Deputy Commander, Group Captain Tinofara George Shumb, has urged newly qualified pilots and Regular Officer Cadets to demonstrate exemplary conduct, integrity and commitment to duty as they take up responsibilities in the defence forces.
He said this on the sidelines of the Number 70 Pilot Training Course Wings Presentation and Commissioning Parade presided over by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at theat Josiah Tungamirai Air Force Base in Gweru on Wednsday.
Deputy Commander, Group Captain Shumba, commended the graduates for successfully navigating the rigorous training programme, which he said had demanded exceptional resilience, courage and determination.
He said the achievement reflected their commitment to developing themselves physically, intellectually, professionally and ethically.
"To the graduands of Number 70 Pilot Training Course and Regular Officer Cadet, in you I see men and women of integrity, service and excellence.
"You have made us proud. You can take enormous pride in all the hard work that brought you to this day," he said.
Group Captain Shumba said the graduates were entering a profession that demanded high standards of conduct and accountability, adding that the country expected them to translate the skills acquired during training into effective service.
Ten trainee pilots, among them nine men and one woman, were also awarded their flying wings by the President, marking the completion of their training and their formal induction into the AFZ.
He noted that the demanding selection and training process had tested both their technical capabilities and personal character, with only those who remained committed and determined making it to graduation.
"Only the best can survive to the end. Today you have risen to every challenge, overcome every single obstacle and proven yourselves worthy of the bars that will soon adorn your uniform and the wings that will adorn your chests," he said.
He said the newly commissioned officers had the intellectual capacity, courage, character and mental strength required to safeguard Zimbabwe's peace and security.
Group Captain Shumba also urged the graduates to remain guided by the principles of integrity, discipline and excellence, emphasising that their conduct and performance would be measured against the country's expectations and the investment made in their professional development.
