By Mupakamiso Makaya and Tapiwa Bere

IN the middle of biological threats, having a biological hazard-free Zimbabwe is possible. 

But, only a robust bio-strategy is the answer to that microbiology menace of mass destruction.

One renowned philosopher once said, being at peace with people will not have you in good books with everyone.

In pursuing its sovereign and pro-people policies,  Zimbabwe has attracted enemies.

The commitment by the Second Republic towards a Bio-warfare Act under the servant leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa is a guarantee of a healthy Zimbabwe and sound citizenry.

In our previous instalments, several agencies and Ministries were identified and proposed as key to biosecurity and bioterrorism prevention in Zimbabwe.

The Defence Ministry was identified as one such stakeholder in biodefence, a position supported by a provision of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

For that to be realised, it is proposed that major structural and organisational changes take place.

It is not a secret and a constitutional requirement that during peacetime, the military affords various resources for the sustenance of the population in case of precarious circumstances, such as accidents or natural calamities.

Historically, and as a norm globally, programmes on biological weapons are under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence while in peacetime it is supervised by the Ministry responsible for Presidential affairs.

The chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protection of the armed forces should be well developed both for collective and individual protection.

To improve capabilities in this area, Zimbabwe is supposed to develop a specialised military CBRN unit that will be operational for international as well as national services.

This special unit should be able to carry out risk evaluation and analysis as well as detection, sampling and identification of CBRN hazards and industrial chemicals.It should maintain several research institutions where it conducts scientific research and experimental design tests aimed at creating protection from dangerous pathogens.

The unit should also regulate the creation, maintenance, storage and security of its critical culture collections.

Apart from research on biological agents, detection and decontamination, the Ministry is supposed to play an important role in formulating State policy on biosecurity and in the establishment of requirements for developing means of protection from dangerous biological agents and chemical substances.

The responsible defence forces should protect the armed forces personnel and military infrastructure from dangerous biological agents and chemical substances as well as other pathogens of both natural and artificial origin.

The unit should conduct assessments of external and internal sources of biological and chemical threats and subsequently make recommendations for preventing other States from developing, acquiring and producing biological and chemical weapons.

At the request of civil agencies or the Government, the Ministry of Defence should organise and support sanitary and anti-epidemic activities in the case of an emergency.

Traditionally, the military maintains maven units trained to defend against biological and chemical weapons, since these forces are qualified for early detection of a biological agent release and the decontamination of affected areas.

A CBRN unit identified above should be responsible for the timely supply of personal protection equipment against biological weapons to other military units.

In addition, the armed forces should maintain a stockpile of vaccines and other prophylactic measures against infectious diseases.

The Ministry of Defence should have a National Service of Technical and Export Control (NSTEC) responsible for protecting State secrets and classified information on activities related to the biological and chemical security of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

It will also control the execution of measures aimed at preventing leaks of State secrets and classified information on these activities. Furthermore, it is supposed to be in charge of technical equipment used for the destruction of biological weapons and participate in international co-operative efforts in the field of biological security.

Another proposed major function of NSTEC is the development and enforcement of export controls on equipment and technologies that may be used for bioweapons-related purposes and the implementation of State policy on the non-proliferation of biological and chemical weapons.

Besides the Ministry of Defence’s contribution to fighting CBRN terrorism through the above-mentioned unit, the military should have several research centres and a specialised CBRN defence unit that has the composition of civilian defence stakeholders for liaison.

CBRN defence is mainly the charge of the Ministry responsible for defence and security.

In extreme cases of a release of CBRN substances, the armed forces assist the civilian authorities and rescue departments by providing specific capacities, ranging from screening devices, decontamination and treatment equipment to personnel assistance.

The Ministry of Defence rapid response units, such as Fire and Rescue, have the capacity for decontamination, hence they should be given the responsibility to handle CBRN incidents; they should be capacitated to prevent and handle military or technical incidents involving nuclear, biological or chemical substances.

The Fire and Rescue Department of the Defence Forces should be equipped with fire reconnaissance and decontamination vehicles, with tools for the detection, identification and assessment of relevant substances, and with individual protection equipment. The centre should instruct active and reservist personnel of the ground forces, as well as members of the military force with law enforcement duties among the civilian population.

The CDNBC’s mission is to: Educate CBRN specialists and to ensure that CBRN-related knowledge is disseminated within the ground forces; participate in the embroidery of a CBRN doctrine; contribute to the evaluation of CBRN defence equipment and document its proper usage; assure coherence of CBRN doctrine, organisation, equipment and training of the armed forces; and to establish international contacts with relevant actors and institutions.

The Biological Warfare Research Centre (BWRC) should be a research facility of the armed forces, financed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. 

It is supposed to be the military’s centre of expertise for matters concerning the protection of the armed forces from nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical weapons. 

To some extent, its responsibilities and activities are also relevant for civilian purposes. 

Biological threats, by nature, are transcontinental, hence the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is an interested party. The Ministry, in collaboration with other stakeholders, should ensure the biological and chemical security of the Republic of Zimbabwe at the international level. 

In co-ordination with the relevant national executive bodies, it should draft documents concerning issues related to the implementation of the BTWC by the Republic of Zimbabwe, and participate in drafting suggestions for offsetting the development, acquisition and production of biological and chemical weapons by other States. 

It is hereby proposed that the Ministry establish departments responsible for non-proliferation and biosecurity at the international level.