Pictorial highlight of the Zambia National Services recruits intake 26/2023

OVER 1,400 ZNS RECRUITS PASS OUT
The New Dawn Government has honored its promises made regarding youth employment by recruiting over 1, 400 troops in the Zambia National Service (ZNS).
This is the largest recruits intake to be trained at ZNS Kabwe Training School since inception.
The Minister of Defence, Honourable Ambrose Lwiji Lufuma said Government will remain resolute in reducing the high levels of youth unemployment in the country by exploring all possible areas where job opportunities can be created.
Speaking when he officiated at the Passout Parade for recruits intake 26/2023 at yesterday, Hon Lufuma said Government had identified the Ministry of Defence as one of the strategic Institutions to spearhead developmental activities in the country which therefore calls for adequate manpower to undertake the tasks.
Of the 1,471 recruits, 814 males and 657 females had undergone six months of Military Training at the School.
“It therefore gives Government great comfort that increased manpower will be deployed in various agricultural units as well as earth works and construction so as to enhance production and productivity which in turn will grow the country’s Gross Domestic Product,” the Minister said.
Hon Lufuma also revealed that his Ministry in liaison with key stakeholders is currently crafting a legal framework to re-introduce voluntary training for school leavers.
This he said was in accordance with the directive received from the Republican President and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force, Mr Hakainde Hichilema at the ZNS Jubilee celebration in 2022.
The Reviewing officer said Government will continue implementing programs that prioritize skills and transformation of the youth to enable them become resourceful and self-reliant.
He urged the troops not to be complacent as they embark on their duty, adding that Government expects them to add value to the Service they had joined.
And the ZNS Commander, Lieutenant General Maliti Solochi informed the Reviewing officer that the recruits will be subjected to additional production based training programmes for them to be more responsive to the current food production needs of the nation.
Lt Gen Solochi said ZNS aspires to have a grounded, professional and well equipped team of Service personnel, capable of responding swiftly to calls of national duty such as the drought disaster that has currently affected the country.
“In times of peace, we shall all join hands in producing food for ourselves and our nation. Let me take advantage of this platform to direct all Service personnel and families to make use of every available portion of land to plant something, both for home consumption and for sale,” the ZNS Commander said.
Lt Gen Solochi implored recruits to brace themselves for not only various national productive responsibilities but also for local operational duties as well as deployments abroad, as and when the Commander-in-Chief may determine.
On anti-smuggling, the ZNS Commander said some recruits will soon be deployed in various parts of the country to safeguard national grain and its products, especially mealie meal.
He commended Government for making it possible for ZNS to boost its workforce which he said will go a long way in enhancing the Institution’s capacity to efficiently and effectively undertake national tasks of not only defending the territorial integrity of the nation but also of tackling other critical national assignments.
Meanwhile, Kabwe Training School Commandant Colonel Peter Mwelwa said 1,507 were initially enlisted of which 35 were put on cease training while one died during the course of training.
Col Mwelwa asserted that the troops were adequately drilled for Service and therefore, ready to effectively and efficiently undertake national tasks at any given time.

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