§ Mr. Proctorasked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have recently been effected in the team of military advisers and instructors involved in the training of Zimbabwe's national army; whether British advisers have trained members of the Zimbabwe Fifth Brigade; whether this training is continuing; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StanleyThe most recent changes to the British military advisory and training team (BMATT) in Zimbabwe took place in July, when the number of BMATT personnel was reduced from about 100 to the present level of just over 60.
One of BMATT's current functions is to run training and instruction courses for individual officers and men drawn from the Zimbabwe national army as a whole. Some of these individuals have come from the 5th Brigade but BMATT has never been involved in unit training of that brigade.