AFTER spending a year in Central African Republic (CAR) on a peacekeeping mission, it was a teary homecoming for Zambia Army Special Forces operative Ingwe Kipande.
The Zambian troops arrived back home last week on Tuesday, but were only reunited with their families the following day (Wednesday) at Arakan Barracks in Lusaka. So what could melt the heart of a tough-tested soldier?
It was a baby boy that was handed to the warrant officer by his wife, Bester, who is a fellow soldier.
“To me it was something very emotional because I operated in a hostile region and when I heard that my wife had delivered a baby boy, I shed tears. I would have felt the same if it was a girl,” says Ingwe.
Baby Lukumo, a Kaonde name meaning glory, was born on October 3 last year, two months after Ingwe was deployed to Birao in the northern part of CAR, where Zambia has maintained a significant military presence, keeping the region at peace for the past decade.
“When I arrived at the parade square, it was very unique; my friends were receiving cakes and flowers, but I received a baby,” says Ingwe.
Pictures taken by his wife, who works in the media department of Zambia Army, show both father and son in tears; one overwhelmed with joy, and the other, most probably fear at being lifted in the arms of a stranger in full combat gear, complete with a dagger.
Credit: Zambia Daily Mail
