STRATEGIES TO IMPLEMENT MILITARY OPERATIONS OTHER THAN WAR IN ZIMBABWE

ABSTRACT

 

The defence forces have a constitutional mandate to protect citizens, territorial integrity, national security and interests, and to uphold the constitution through the use of both combat and non-combat means. Combat capability in many developing nations is weak. On the other hand, the military is often abused and positioned at centre of corruption and bad governance under the banner of non-combat operations, also known as military operations other than war (MOOTW). The study examined strategies for effective implementation of MOOTW in Zimbabwe. Effective MOOTW implementation strategies have an impact on national security policy, and they also professionalises the conduct of the defence force in the civil-military relations spectrum. A mixed research methodology was adopted in order to obtain both qualitative and quantitative data to analysis MOOTW implementation strategies. The study was guided by civil-military relations concepts, mainly Huntington's subjective and objective models of civilian control of the military. The study mainly focused on three strategies: funding, support, and awareness-related strategies. The results indicate that public awareness campaign strategies are considered the most effective way to promote MOOTW implementation: public awareness strategies (98%), civil ministries support strategies (85%), government funding strategies (81%), and non-state funding strategies (21%). Critically, the strategies that promote public awareness on the importance of MOOTW create a common vision among the military and civil society. The military-society synergies resonate with the military constitutional mandate and further broaden the scope of peace and development efforts by all citizens. Effective MOOTW implementation strategies can change the narrative that the military is at the core of bad governance, corruption, and continuous struggles for power in developing nations.

 

 

Key Words: military operations other than war (MOOTW), Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), civil-military relations, development studies, defence and security studies, national security.