UN requests for more Zambian troops

ZAMBIA has been requested to provide more troops for the UN operations in recognition of the country’s proficiency based on its previous contributions to UN peace keeping missions.

Zambia was last year ranked top in quality of peace keeping troops in its missions by the United Nations. The country scored 90 percent in competence based on its contributions to UN peace keeping operations.

Zambia Army Brigade Commander Armoured Brigade, Brigadier-General Mudas Musukwa, revealed this after making a presentation on the current and planned mechanised capability of the Zambia Defence Force at the 20th Annual International Armoured vehicle conference held at Twickenham Stadium in the United Kingdom,

Bri-Gen Musukwa said the

British Department of Defence team was expected in Zambia to train more troops preparing to go for the UN Peace Keeping Operations.

He said Zambia had decided to mordernise the Defence Force to make it relevant in the era of dynamic security environment.

He said to meet the demands of new threats, the Zambia Army was in the process of realigning and reorganising its forces as it also looks at revisiting its policy.

“Government has continued to support the modernisation agenda by ensuring the Defence Force acquires new equipment,” Brigadier General Musukwa said.

He told the conference that though the security environment in SADC and Zambia in particular is not yet volatile, the status quo in the security environment cannot be taken for granted.

Bri-Gen Musukwa said Zambia Army Command desires to see a professional, modern and versatile army capable of preserving national and International peace and security by 2025, saying this would enable the Army to carry out its mission to preserve the sovereignty and defend the territorial integrity of Zambia and contribute to the maintenance of the world peace.