Zambia National Service

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Revision as of 14:30, 10 November 2022 by Icem4k (talk | contribs) (→‎Commandants)
Zambia National Service
Founded1963; 61 years ago (1963)
20 December 1971; 52 years ago (1971-12-20)
Country Zambia
TypeLand force
RoleGround warfare
Part ofZambian Defence Force
HeadquartersLusaka
Nickname(s)Landa Army
Motto(s)Sudor Et Sanguinis Pro Patria
Commanders
Current
commander
Lt Gen Maliti Solochi [1]

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The Zambia National Service, abbreviated ZNS, is part of the Zambian Defence Force whose primary objective is to train Zambian citizens in agriculture and craft skills[2][3]it was formed in 1963 as a Land Army[4] before it was renamed to Zambia National Service. ZNS is also a major sponsor of Green Eagles.[5][6]

History

Established in 1963 by the United National Independence Party as a youth wing of the independence movement, known as the Land Army which was set to be used as a military option in an event that independence negotiations on the round table failed. As of October 24, 1964, after the peaceful acquisition of independence, the Land Army was demobilized. On December 20, 1971, through an Act of Parliament a more militant ZNS was born. With Zambia's position in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, a military training component became part of the ZNS.

In 1974 military training became compulsory for form five school leavers, university graduates, and government officials. In 1980 the compulsory training for form five school leavers was stopped.


Background As a Land Army, ZNS was initially established to be a militant wing of the United National Independence Party (UNIP), one of the major political parties at the time agitating for Zambia’s Independence. It was largely meant to be used as a punch or gorilla military option in an event that independence negotiations on the round table collapsed. However, the anticipated armed struggle never materialized as the United National Independence Party (UNIP) together with the African National Congress (ANC) managed to peacefully navigate the nation to independence on 24 October 1964.

The establishment of the Zambia youth service

The peaceful acquisition of independence in 1964, soon brought to the fore a ticking time bomb in the mass army of the easily influenced, potentially disgruntled, uneducated and unemployed militant youths of the Land Army. There was therefore urgent need to demobilize them and redirect their zeal and energy to other important, post-independence national agendas which were national/household development and safeguarding of national security. This is what led the government to introduce a skills training programme to empower the unskilled and unemployable youths with trades that would enable them look after themselves together with their families. This was also a way to have them seamlessly get reintegrated back into society. The Government therefore transformed the Land Army into a productive and a more inclusive organization with a national character in 1965 and renamed it the Zambia Youth Service to help impart skills to the formerly ‘stone thrower’ youths and thus turn them intoa productive component of society. This programme went on from 1965 to December 1971.

Transformation of the Zambia youth service to Zambia national service

Owing to Zambia’s leading and active role in the liberation struggle of some members of the Southern African region from colonial rule, the country inadvertently attracted the wrath of the fascist Ian Smith of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and the old apartheid regime of South Africa. Numerous attempts to destabilize the country through military raids and bombings were consequently made. This situation took a heavy toll on the defence assets and resources of our country, especially being inflicted by rival forces who at the time boasted of marked superiority both in strength and armament. Government therefore saw the need to reinforce the Zambia Army by establishing a well-organized military institution to help thwart the persistent incursions. Zambia Youth Service was thus dissolved, and a more militant Zambia National Service established through an Act of Parliament on 20 December 1971. 20 December is today commemorated as the Zambia National Service Day.

Commandants

List of Commandants
No. Name Term of office Ref
Took office Left office Time in office
1. Brig Gen C. Nyirenda
1. Gen G K Chinkulu
2. Lt Gen P D Zuze
3. Lt Gen B J Mibenge
4. Maj Gen T. M. Fara October 1980 March 1988 9 years, 182 days
5. Maj Gen  D.S. Zulu March 1988 November 1991 10 years, 214 days
6. Lt Gen W.J. Funjika November 1991 June 2002 9 years, 212 days
7. Maj Gen M Mbao June 2002 September 2007 4 years, 273 days
8. Maj Gen R. Chisheta 1 Dec 2007 7 April 2010 9 years, 127 days
9. Maj Gen A S Yeta 2010 23 September 2011 9 years, 339 days
10. Lt Gen Nathan Mulenga 23 September 2011 30 August 2021 9 years, 339 days [7]
12. Lt Gen Maliti Solochi 30 August 2021 Incumbent 2 years, 211 days [8]

Change of command nomenclature

Since its establishment the Service was only involved with the training of school leavers (Citizens) in market-based life sustaining skills (production) and hence the nomenclature was befittingly COMMANDANT. The term Commandant is associated with a defence department or otherwise only dealing in one leadership component, either training or health etc. With the diversity in its Roles and deployment it was found necessary to change the term to that of COMMANDER. On 29th December 2021, the title was overwhelmingly changed by the Council which is mandated by the President to administer lawfully the affairs of the Service. The title came into effect on 14th January 2022 through conveyance of authority by Ministry of Defence.

Functions

  • Direction, coordination, and conduct of all military operations
  • Training of citizens and service personnel as determined by the Government of the Republic of Zambia and Administration branch
  • Provision and maintenance of the communication systems within the service
  • Liaison with other services and security wings on matters of defense and security
  • Employment of its members in tasks of national importance e.g. Disaster management and mitigation
  • Defense of the Republic and Agricultural production

References

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