New Defense Force – The Debate
By Dickson Jere
Following my intervention yesterday on the government proposal to repeal and replace the Defence Act with it( the new one, very interesting and thought provoking debate has ensued. I got amazing feedback from both serving and retired officers as well as general citizens. I think more consultation is needed on this new proposal.
Let me summarized what I picked from the feedback;
1. The problem began in 2016 when we amended the Constitution. We decided to define our Defence Force as being Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force (ZAF) and Zambia National Service (ZNS). Historically, ZNS has never been part of the Defence Act as it was considered as an auxiliary of Zambia Army. So the new Act is trying to align to the Constitution. However, Article 192 is very clear that ZNS is an auxiliary unit and not a full Defence Force as its being suggested (read it).
2. We, as a country, have never given serious thoughts as to what we want ZNS to be. From 1971, it has always operated with its own ZNS Act away from the Defence Act of 1964. So, even when we want to infuse ZNS into the Defence Act, what is it that we want it to be? We cannot have two land forces in Zambia. Many have given examples of the ongoing Sudan Civil War caused by the same problem of having two land forces with each Commander claiming to be the one. Others have suggested that ZNS be transformed into the National Guards. This will require a lot of thinking.
3. Some have suggested that Zambia should have a centralized command system with a top commander. Others have opposed saying there is no need to have a strongman at the helm. President Kenneth Kaunda tried it with the Zambia National Defence Force (ZNDF) which he created between 1975 to 1980. The first Commander Gen Chinkuli is till alive and may shed light on how it operated and presumably failed since it was abandoned.
4. The ranking system in our Defence Force is standardized to that the Zambia Army. Should each wing adopt own ranks like ZAF that usually have unique ones for the air force? At inception, ZNS had its own ranking system before it was abolished and adopted the Zambia Army ones. Should they revert to old ones?
5. There is expectation that the new Defence Act should also deal with the issue of the Defence Council composition as well as the chairing of the same. Others have proposed rotation of the chair while others believe the senior most in rank must always take the chair. Some believe the unit with most troops should automatically chair, which in our case, is Zambia Army. Whatever the case, there is need for consensus.
Going by the debate, I believe that more consultation may be needed to have consensus on these matters before the Bill is tabled in Parliament.
All critical voices and stakeholders must be heard.
