Zimbabwe faces mounting security challenges as modern drone warfare exposes weaknesses in its military capabilities.
Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has warned that the country risks falling behind rapidly changing battlefield technology. She also revealed that poor salaries have driven away nearly half of the Air Force’s pilots.
Speaking during Friday’s pre-budget seminar in Bulawayo, Muchinguri-Kashiri highlighted lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
She said drones account for 70 per cent of casualties in the ongoing war. These devices support surveillance, precision attacks and psychological operations.
“The new warfare: a $10,000 drone destroys $200 million worth of military equipment,” she said.
The minister warned that drone technology presents dangers beyond conventional military operations. According to her, criminal networks and terrorist groups also exploit drones.
She cited their use in drug trafficking and the illegal movement of gold and minerals.
“If we do not have equipment to bring down these drones, we are heading towards disaster. We are vulnerable,” she said.
Minister questions Zimbabwe’s military preparedness
Muchinguri-Kashiri expressed concern about Zimbabwe’s approach to modernising its defence forces.
She argued that military planning still prioritises helicopters and fighter jets. However, emerging technology has transformed warfare into a cheaper and increasingly dangerous battlefield.
Artificial intelligence, facial recognition and miniature attack drones now present serious security challenges.
The minister illustrated how easily small drones could target individuals across different locations.
“A small drone can come into this room and just kill one person; somewhere in South Africa, somewhere in Nigeria, can send a drone just to destroy and kill one person,” she said.
Her remarks highlighted the growing need for advanced detection and counter-drone systems.
Poor salaries drive away Air Force pilots
The minister also raised concerns about Zimbabwe’s struggle to retain highly trained military personnel.
She revealed that the Air Force of Zimbabwe has lost almost half its pilots to better-paying opportunities abroad.
Training one pilot reportedly costs more than US$40,000. However, inadequate salaries continue pushing experienced personnel towards foreign employers.
“Everyone comes to Zimbabwe to recruit. We need to protect them by paying them very well,” she said.
Meanwhile, limited funding continues affecting the military’s modernisation programme.
Muchinguri-Kashiri said the Zimbabwe Defence Forces lack sufficient resources for essential improvements.
The ICT equipment budget received just ZiG15 million against a ZiG34 million request. This represents approximately 43 per cent of the requested funding.
Building maintenance also faces a significant funding shortfall. The government allocated ZiG125 million against an estimated requirement of ZiG1.6 billion.
That allocation represents only six per cent of the required amount. These funding gaps raise further questions about Zimbabwe’s ability to modernise its defence infrastructure.
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