In a fast-changing world, entrepreneurship is one of the main drivers of economic development. Zambia, for its part, has laid a strong foundation for economic take-off despite challenges ranging from disease to drought.

Enter the Zambia National Service (ZNS). It has always been the desire of ZNS Commander Lieutenant General Maliti Solochi to ensure that the military wing retains its institutional pride in peacetime struggles. It was therefore not surprising when ZNS launched its holding company on Thursday.

Through the launch of the much-anticipated Eagles Holdings Limited, the military wing announced its intention to enhance its participation in the country’s economy by unveiling eight companies across various sectors, including security, trading, minerals, fuels, construction, transportation, fumigation, and events.

Lt. Gen. Solochi’s command has fearlessly and innovatively looked outside the box to contribute to the economic development of the country. In a dynamic and diverse security environment, ZNS analyzed and developed a durable strategic plan that led to the creation of a holding company to ensure the military wing, which has been associated with agriculture, infrastructure development, robust culture, and sports, can measure up well to the demanding standard of the new Dawn government’s manifesto and meet the aspirations of the Zambian people amidst the current global fiscal realities.

ZNS was established and organized to provide national service in food production and rural reconstruction. This mandate has not changed since the Kaunda days, but what has seemingly changed over the years is the clear focus from command to ensure that it meets the expectations of the government in general and the citizenry in particular.

As a public institution, ZNS has continued to align itself with the historical role of rallying behind the government to boost the economic and human development agenda. By looking outside the box, Lt. Gen. Solochi has chosen to reconstruct a modern ZNS that can be responsive to the government’s transformation agenda of fostering economic and social development on an immediate and sustained basis.

While Gen. Solochi and his command continue to focus on key issues of particular interest, such as:

• The production of staple food crops like maize, rice, wheat, sorghum, and cassava to feed into the milling plants that have been constructed at great cost so that people can buy cheap mealie meal at an affordable price.
• Taking up the challenge of rural reconstruction; building bridges, roads, dams, schools, health posts, and housing for local government (local authorities and constituencies) using the revived Builders Brigade Branch and Land Development Branch.
• Remaining a Rapid Reaction or Standby Force to respond to emerging crisis situations, especially disasters such as floods in conjunction with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit.
• Helping address climate change concerns and public capital or social needs in general whenever the need arises.

In order to realize this vision, ZNS under the watch of Gen. Solochi has reformed its affairs by not only upgrading its infrastructure, modernizing its equipment, improving its human capital, and enhancing its systems to meet the demanding standards of the new Dawn administration but also participating in other economic affairs of the country through its holding company.

By establishing a holding company, ZNS may still be called upon to provide some security or protection duties. It is still performing this function through various operations around the country as part of its noble mandate to preserve.

ZNS appreciates its mandate but can no longer restrict itself to agricultural activities and infrastructure development. It had to step up, and indeed it has done so. Ideally, military operations other than war (MOOTW) in peacetime across the Defense Services must benefit the human security aspects to which ZNS belongs.

The ZNS Command leadership has diligently revolutionized its affairs by investing systematically and methodically in areas that will not only promote food security and spur rural reconstruction but also other economic sectors through the holding company. Through the holding company launched on Thursday, ZNS intends to harness the vision of Command and support the new Dawn government. It is a paradigm shift to support MOOTW, which is long overdue.

ZNS command has conducted due diligence through various benchmarking visits to countries such as Egypt and Ethiopia, where the military is a huge stakeholder in the economies of those countries. Tanzania, which emulated the concept of establishing an auxiliary military wing, is now way ahead of Zambia. ZNS had to go to Dar es Salaam to learn best practices. The holding company is a result of such a benchmarking visit.

ZNS has changed its strategies in a changing environment by developing strong institutional frameworks to support emerging threats such as the challenging economy. ZNS has demonstrated its ability to be adaptive and innovative to help mitigate the effects of a global economic meltdown and other emerging threats.

Criticism

Since the launch of the holding company, some people have taken to social media to criticize the well-thought-out initiative. ZNS Command should embrace criticism and use it positively. When the holding company overperforms, it will win the critics over. For now, Gen. Solochi should grow a thick skin and remain focused.

By Benedict Tembo

President Hakainde Hichilema warmly hosted the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, His Excellency Mr.Mr. Du Xiaohui, as he came to bid farewell at the end of his tour of duty in the country.

In a gesture of goodwill, President Hichilema sent his warmest greetings to His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and to the citizens of China, expressing gratitude for the deepening diplomatic and bilateral cooperation between the two nations.

President Hichilema particularly thanked the Chinese government for its crucial role in resolving Zambia’s debt restructuring programme, highlighting the significant impact of this support on the country’s economic stability. He also acknowledged the numerous projects initiated during Ambassador Du’s tenure, expressing optimism for continued trade and investment to benefit citizens of both countries.

During the farewell, President Hichilema emphasized the importance of revitalizing the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), urging swift resolution of outstanding issues and reaffirming Zambia’s readiness to address any impediments to the project.

Furthermore, President Hichilema expressed gratitude for the Chinese government’s assistance in combating COVID-19, the cholera outbreak, and the ongoing drought situation. He underscored Zambia’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with China, especially in trade and investment, as the country marks its 60th anniversary.

“Zambia at 60 years shall forever work towards enhancing our relationship with China, particularly in areas of trade and investment, to provide more opportunities for our citizens in both countries,” said President Hichilema.

The farewell event underscored the enduring friendship and cooperative spirit between Zambia and China, setting a positive tone for future engagements and collaborations.

In a gesture to commemorate Africa Freedom Day, President Hakainde Hichilema has pardoned 1,005 inmates. Acting Home Affairs Minister Ambrose Lufuma announced the development in Lusaka.

Mr. Lufuma detailed that the pardoned individuals include 939 ordinary inmates, 39 elderly inmates, eight women with circumstantial children, and four foreign nationals. Additionally, 15 inmates had their sentences commuted, a reflection of the President’s prerogative of mercy as stipulated under Article 97 of the Constitution.

This significant act aims to address overcrowding in Zambia’s correctional facilities, where the inmate population currently stands at 28,225 against a holding capacity of 10,650. The government is also expanding open-air correctional centers, such as the nearly completed Nansanga Correctional Centre in Serenje, which will accommodate 1,600 inmates.

The government is further implementing measures like non-custodial sentences for minor offenses and improving legal aid to alleviate overcrowding.

Mr. Lufuma emphasized the importance of community support in reintegrating the pardoned inmates, urging families and the public to welcome them back and give them a second chance.

Below is the full Press Statement

Press Statement by the Acting Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security on the Special Presidential Release of Inmates

To commemorate Africa Freedom Day, His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force, has exercised his prerogative of mercy by pardoning 1,005 inmates. The inmates pardoned are categorized as follows: 939 ordinary inmates, 39 elderly inmates, eight female inmates with circumstantial children, four foreign nationals, and 15 inmates whose sentences have been commuted. Out of the 15 inmates whose sentences have been commuted, two are lifers and 13 are long-term inmates. Among the pardoned, 943 are males and 62 are females. These inmates are from various prisons and correctional centres across the country.

This action by the President is in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Constitution, pursuant to Article 97 of the Constitution Chapter One of the Laws of Zambia, which provides for presidential pardon and substitution of severe punishments imposed on convicted persons.

Ladies and gentlemen, members of the press, overcrowding in correctional facilities remains a source of concern to the government. As of 06:00 hours this morning, May 24, 2024, the inmate population stood at 28,225, against the holding capacity of 10,650.

To address overcrowding in prisons and correctional centres, the government is expanding open-air correctional centres across the country, some of which include Nansanga in Serenje, Mwomboshi in Chisamba, and many others. Once completed, Nansanga Correctional Centre, which stands at 90% completion, will have a holding capacity of 1,600 inmates, increasing the holding capacity to 11,250 inmates from the current 10,650. The government is also promoting the imposition of non-custodial sentences for minor offenses and the continued granting of police bond to decongest police cells, and bail on flexible conditions, for bailable offenses.

Further, the government has also established legal aid desks in prisons and correctional centres to allow accused persons access to legal services at the point of need.

Ladies and gentlemen, members of the press, the pardoning of women with circumstantial children is in line with the address by the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, on the progress made in the application of the national values and principles delivered to the third session of the thirteenth National Assembly on Friday, March 15, 2024, and the presidential directive issued to the Commissioner General during the pass-out parade in Nyango, Kaoma, on September 29, 2023, regarding separating circumstantial children and juveniles by providing them with alternative accommodation away from correctional centres.

Further, to address the welfare of children found in conflict with the law, the government has incorporated the Juvenile Act into the Children’s Code Act No. 12 of 2022, which demands that children should not be in the same parameter with adult inmates of mixed categories.

Ladies and gentlemen, members of the press, I am glad to inform the nation that the presidential directive to find alternative accommodation away from correctional centres has been secured with the support of the Ministry of Infrastructure Housing and Urban Development and will be launched in the next few weeks.

On behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security, the Zambia Correctional Service staff, inmates, and indeed on my own behalf, I would like to take this opportunity to thank His Excellency the President, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, for exercising his prerogative of mercy on the said inmates. The Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security and staff of the Zambia Correctional Service are confident that the pardoned persons have been rehabilitated and are ready for reintegration into society.

Successful reintegration of former inmates is, however, largely dependent on the support of members of the immediate families and communities of the former inmates. We accordingly call upon the families of the pardoned inmates and members of the public at large to support the former inmates by not discriminating against them. It is essential to give the pardoned a second chance to find their feet as law-abiding citizens.

Hon. Ambrose L. Lufuma, MP
Acting Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security
24th May, 2024
Lusaka