Republican President and Commander-in Chief of the Defence Force Mr Hakainde Hichilema says peace and security are of paramount importance for the country to foster social and economic development.
Mr Hichilema said that it is his Government’s desire to continuously equip military personnel with adequate and quality knowledge for them to enhance their skill in safeguarding peace in the country.
The President was speaking in a speech read for him by Defence Minister, Honourable Ambrose Lwiji Lufuma at ZNS Chamba Valley in Lusaka at the combined graduation ceremony for the 24th Defence Services Command and Staff Course and 52nd University of Zambia Peace and Security Studies Programme.
He said that Zambia’s reputation of being a beacon of peace can only be maintained by continuously imparting knowledge in the military Officers.
“We need a professional Defence Force that is capable of safeguarding the territorial integrity of our Republic and creating an enabling environment for development to take place,” President Hichilema said.
He urged the graduates who included senior military officers from Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Rwanda, and Sri Lanka, to protect the sovereignty of their countries and maintain regional peace.
“This kind of professional military education for senior officers from the SADC region and beyond is highly commendable. Going forward, I want to encourage you to continue this interaction in the exchange programme for students and even teaching staff,” the President further said.
The President also directed the Minister of Defence to source for funds and finish the construction of the new Defence Services Command and Staff College which is currently under construction in Makeni area.
And Defence Services Command and Staff College Commandant Brig Gen Humphrey Nyone said the college is training its students to respond to latest trends in warfare, disaster management and national development.
Brig Gen Nyone said students were exposed to both local and international study tours for them to understand the role of the military in maintaining peace and security.
He explained that since inception, the College has churned out over 1,500 local senior military Officers and 360 Senior Officers drawn from various countries, especially in the SADC region.
79 Senior Officers, mainly drawn from the Zambia Defence Force and other allied Armed Forces graduated from the Zambia Defence Services and Staff College and were also awarded with Diplomas in Defence and Security Studies from the University of Zambia.
Meanwhile, the University of Zambia has observed that for the military to be relevant and appreciated, there is need for Officers to have a holistic approach to defence and security matters.
Speaking at the event, UNZA Acting Vice-Chancellor Boniface Namangala said the Zambia Defence Services Command and Staff College has set the bar high and should be emulated for its commitment to serving society better.
(The Zambia Army 03/12/2022)