About Zambia National Service
THE death of General Nobby Simbeye has given us an opportunity to discuss matters related to the history of our defence forces.
The Zambia National Service was founded to promote and implement national agricultural, infrastructure, construction and youth skills.
It was formed in 1963 as a Land Army before it was renamed to Zambia National Service in 1971.
The United National Independence Party (UNIP) formed the Land Army as a youth wing of the independence movement, which was set to be used as a military option or stand-by liberation army in an event that independence negotiations with the British on the round table failed.
On October 24, 1964, after the peaceful acquisition of independence, the Land Army was demobilised.
However 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 done by the ZNS. In 1980 the compulsory training for Form Five school-leavers was discontinued.
ZNS became part of the Zambia Defence Force in 2016 and was incorporated in the Zambian Defence Force Act Cap 106.
After that ZNS gained their seniority over the police in the Defense and Security hierarchy. The
Commander of ZNS now stands next to Zambia Airforce and before the Zambia Police Inspector, General.
Before the 2016 constitution, ZNS operated under the indirect command of the Zambia Army and many ZNS Commandants were appointed from the Zambia Army and held the rank of Major General.
Maj-Gen Anthony Yeta was the last deploy from the Zambia Army.
It was President Michael Sata who first promoted the ZNS Commandant to Lieutenant General (Lt. Gen Nathan Mulenga and told him that it was a personal-to-holder position.
Lt. Gen Mulenga was the first ZNS officer to head the ZNS).
Current Lt-Gen Maliti Solochi is now referred to as ZNS Commander (instead of ZNS Commandant).
However, with the advent of 2016 Constitution, ZNS was elevated and formally incorporated in the Constitution. Though the Constitution still states that there shall be an Army and Air Force called the Zambia Defence Force.
This somehow puts ZNS outside or under the Zambia Army in the Defence Force whichever the case maybe. As ZNS' autonomy continues to be established, these articles may need to be harmonised.
Here are the provision; 192. (1) There is established the Defence Force of Zambia consisting of -
(a) the Zambia Army;
(b) the Zambia Air Force;
(c) the Zambia National Service, as an auxiliary unit; and (d) other units, as prescribed. (2) The Defence Force shall - (a) preserve and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic;
(b) foster harmony and understanding between the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, an auxiliary unit and members of society; and
(c) co-operate with State organs and State institutions in times of public emergencies and national disasters.
EMMANUEL MWAMBA.