Set Apart for the Mission. Throughout 2007, Zimbabwean Salvationists have posted the territorial theme on corps walls, printed it on T-Shirts and even sung it at Salvation Army events. But what exactly is “the mission”? What are Salvationists supposed to be doing? What are our corps and institutions seeking to accomplish?
On September 2, 2007, Commissioner Stanslous Mutewera, Territorial Commander, officially launched the Territorial Strategic Plan for the Zimbabwe Territory. The Strategic Plan was the “brain child” of the Zimbabwe Territorial Executive Committee (TEC), which wanted to provide new direction for the territory. To facilitate this, TEC developed and adopted a new Territorial Mission Statement and established a strategic planning team comprised of officers and soldiers.
The Strategic Plan will guide the Zimbabwe Territory over the next five years (2007-2012) and includes the objectives, strategies and action plan developed by the planning team and approved by Cabinet for implementation.
THE PROCESS
Chaired by Major Langton Kazimpingani, Secretary for Personnel, the Strategic Planning Team met frequently over the course of several months to discuss the key issues facing the territory and how best to respond to them. The team developed a Vision Statement and a set of Core Values to complement the new Mission Statement. They also outlined seven objectives, which they felt were crucial for the territory to achieve over the next five years.
The Strategic Planning Team presented a draft copy of the Strategic Plan to the Cabinet and TEC last June for their review and approval. In addition, the Strategic Planning Team provided copies of the Strategic Plan to each of the divisional consultative counsels, as well as to other stakeholders, to ensure that it was relevant and did not omit any important issues.
MISSION, VISION & VALUES
The Zimbabwe Territory established new mission, vision and values statements to guide all centres more efficiently over the next five years. While the territory certainly hasn’t developed a new mission (the ongoing purpose of the Army remains the same), this new mission statement identifies more clearly the path upon which we will follow. The vision statement outlines where we wish to be in the next five years, and the values statements illustrate the characteristics that will define the territory in action.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Salvation Army Zim-babwe Territory is part of the Evangelical Christian Church. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, make disciples and meet human needs without discrimination for the Glory of God.
VISION STATEMENT
To be an evangelically focused, spiritually mature, caring, efficient and self-reliant Territory.
TERRITORIAL VALUES
Christ-Centred
Compassionate
Self-Reliant
Integrity
Distinctive
Unity in Diversity
Passionate (Army Spirit)
SEVEN OBJECTIVES
The territory has identified seven objectives to guide the territory over the next five years:
1. To grow the size of the Army by 30% by 2012
2. All Army centres in the territory to be mission focused
3. Increase the territorial financial base by 50% by 2012
4. Develop competent and spiritually mature officers and soldiers by 2012
5. The Army to be involved in disaster preparedness and management both in Zimbabwe and Botswana
6. The territory to establish an integrated approach to the Army mission by Dec 2009
7. Establish a territorial information technology infrastructure by 2012
THE WAY FORWARD
In order to coordinate and assist the various Army units in the implementation of the Territorial Strategic Plan, a Project Implementation Team has been established. This team will help market the trategic planning document as widely as possible, set target deadlines and carry out annual evaluations of the implemen-tation process in divisions, corps and centres in the territory.
“This is our Strategic Plan,” said Commissioner S. Mutewera. “The Zimbabwe Territory developed it and we need to own it—its success depends on us! I ask for the cooperation of all centres in the territory to start working immediately so that the territory can accomplish our mission and our seven objectives.”
Download the Territorial Strategic Plan document.
Greetings in the name of God. firstly i would like to thank Mjr Kazimupingani for leading this great strategic plan commitee. There is so much covered in this document which will see salvation army in zimbabwe grow.After carefully going through the document i have come up with just a few iteams which i feel where left out but need to be part of the document.
1. Music depatment or rather the area of music as a tool that brings growth in terms of numbers and spiritual growth was overlooked and i feel we need to incorparate this area. My line of thinking is that there must be mobilisation of more brass instrments from abroad so that many of our corps in zimbabwe have at least a full set. instruments are tools that lift up peoples souls and they are an integral part of the army armoury. Moreso we need emphases on a broad tranning on choral music across our territory.
2.I was of the opion that in our five year plan we need to include the establishment on a salvation army univesity this will inhance the area of education growth. I feel this is very feasible though its a challange.
Above all i feel the area of business unit need to be looked at seriously. I have gone through what the startegic plan committee adopted on this area and i feel it is a vihicle to the success of all the progrmmes that need financial backing.Starting with the Trade department, i have looked at the trade in USA and the UK there are so many things that they sale. things like mug cups, t shirts, jackets, bantanas,shields, jeans,shirts etc with salvation army logo. We have to move away from just selling uniforms this will not give us any business elevation. you have highlighted the area of smale shops like coffee shops, food outlets etc these are areas that we should develop and get the financial milage that we are looking for. I hope you are going to look into these.
regards
webster taruvinga
(Bandmaster Waterfalls Corps)