The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is an integrated organisation. It is a merger between the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Headquarters (ZDF HQ) and a compliment of civil service personnel. The ZDF HQ element is a combination of senior Army and Air Force officers and supporting staff.Prior to the establishment of the integrated Ministry of Defence in 1994, the MOD was wholly manned by Public Service Commission civilian staff complemented by a small number of military liaison personnel. The Minister of Defence heads the integrated MOD together with its ZDF HQ in conformity with international norms and practices of subordination of the military to civilian in democratic dispensations.