Be vigilant, defence personnel urged

DEFENCE personnel should remain vigilant and maintain security of the country during this festival season, Zambia Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Eric Chimese has said. Gen. Chimese advised the defence personnel to avoid overindulging in illicit activities that will negatively affect their performance. Speaking when he addressed ZAF Lusaka based personnel at Chamba Valley in Lusaka yesterday, Gen Chimese said there was need for self-introspection as players in the defence of the country and carefully evaluate the contribution to the overall and result. Gen. Chimese described the year 2017 as progressive as the command fulfilled its obligation but noted that there was still room to do more. He commended all staff for the contribution towards the fulfillment of their role in 2017, despite many challenges faced. He said all the units and formations recorded above average performance towards the attainment of respective, roles and objectives. He said he was aware that the Government had so many priorities on its development agenda such as education, health and infrastructure development and to improve the economy of the nation. “According to article 192(1) of the constitution of Zambia and section 4(1) (B) of the defence Act Cap 106 of the laws of Zambia, we have been tasked with a responsibility to defend the Zambian airspace, both defensively and offensively, support our sister services, provide air transport to the country and perform any other tasks given by Government. “All the activities we performed this year were in support of the highlighted roles, all our ZAF units and tasks are clearly understood, it becomes easier for us to gauge our performance at individual level and generally all levels of the organization,” said Gen Chimese. Meanwhile, Gen. Chimese noted that without formidable defence they would be no reasonable activity within the country and that if they did not provide security for the country, they would be no economic activity as well as social activity. He appealed to the personnel to continue providing security to the country as their responsibility because that was a catalyst for normal functioning of society. “We have to support our units by giving them guidance and my warriors out there I urge you to play your part by providing the actual defence of the country that is required because you are our operators of missiles among others,” he said. “For the year 2018, I challenge all of you to perform even better than we did in year 2017 and to my generals here you should provide leadership by giving them direction that is responsibility of command.