SPEECH BY
HIS EXCELLENCY, DR EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA AND
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCE,
ON THE COMMEMORATION
OF
THE 45TH ZAMBIA DEFENCE FORCE DAY
SUNDAY, 13TH JUNE 2021
STATE HOUSE
LUSAKA
• SECRETARY TO THE CABINET;
• PERMANENT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE;
• OTHER PERMANENT SECRETARIES PRESENT;
• AMBASSADORS AND HIGH COMMISSIONERS ACCREDITED TO THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA;
• DEFENCE FORCE AND SERVICE CHIEFS;
• FORMER DEFENCE FORCE CHIEFS AND FORMER DEPUTY SERVICE CHIEFS;
• DEFENCE ATTACHES AND ADVISERS;
• HEADS OF BRANCHES;
• SENIOR OFFICERS;
• OFFICERS;
• WARRANT OFFICERS;
• MEMBERS OF THE PRESS;
• DISTINGUISHED INVITED GUESTS;
• LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE AND HONOUR TO GRACE THIS OCCASION TODAY WHEN WE ARE COMMEMORATING THE 45TH DEFENCE FORCE DAY WHICH IS OBSERVED EVERY YEAR ON 13TH JUNE. THIS YEAR’S DEFENCE FORCE DAY IS BEING COMMEMORATED UNDER THE THEME; PRESERVATION OF NATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY THROUGH PATRIOTISM AND LOYALTY”.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DAY CANNOT BE OVER EMPHASISED. AS WE COMMEMORATE THIS AUSCIPIOUS DAY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK BACK AND THIS IS CRITICAL ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUNG GENERATION.
THIS DAY WAS INSTITUTED FOLLOWING THE UNIFICATION OF THE ZAMBIA ARMY, ZAMBIA AIR FORCE AND THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL SERVICE BY THE FIRST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT DR KENNETH DAVID KAUNDA TO FORM THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE, ON 13 JUNE 1976.
AT A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THAT DAY, DR KAUNDA APPOINTED MAJOR GENERAL KINGSLEY CHINKULI AS THE FIRST COMMANDER OF THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE. MAJOR GEN. CHINKULI THE ARMY COMMANDER THEN WAS SUBSQUENTLY PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF GENERAL, WHILE AIR COMMODORE PETER DINGISWAYO ZUZE THE ZAMBIA AIR FORCE COMMANDER THEN, WAS APPOINTED ZAMBIA NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE DEPUTY COMMANDER AND PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
IN THE PAST THE ZAMBIA DEFENCE FORCE DAY HAS BEEN COMMEMORATED BY WAY OF SPORTS COMPETITIONS AMONG THE DEFENCE FORCE WINGS. HOWEVER, TODAY, THE EVENT IS UNIQUE AS A MILITARY PARADE HAS BEEN PUT UP COMPRISING A MARCH PAST, A DRIVE PAST OF MILITARY VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT, AND FLY PAST BY THE ZAMBIA AIR FORCE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE IMMENSE SACRIFICES THAT THE ZAMBIA DEFENCE FORCE CONTINUES TO MAKE OF PRESERVING AND DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY’S SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY.
I AM EQUALLY HAPPY THAT AS ZAMBIA DEFENCE FORCE, YOU HAVE CONTINUED TO COOPERATE WITH OTHER STATE ORGANS AND STATE INSTITUTIONS IN FOSTERING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
YOUR CONTRIBUTION OF TROOPS TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND AFRICAN UNION MISSIONS CAN NOT GO UNNOTICED, AND IS WELL APPRECIATED. AND THIS IS BECAUSE OF YOUR HIGH DISCIPLINE AND PROFFESSIONALISM EXHIBITED DURING THE UN MISSIONS.
LET ME ALSO COMMEND THE FORCE FOR YOUR POSITIVE RESPONSE TO MY GOVERNMENT’S POLICY DIRECTIVE FOR YOU TO ENGAGE IN AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES. IT IS GRATIFYING TO NOTE THAT THE ZAMBIA ARMY AND THE ZAMBIA AIR FORCE ARE NOW COMPLEMENTING THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL SERVICE IN PROMOTING AGRICULTURE BY GROWING MAIZE, REARING BROILER CHICKENS, LIVESTOCK REARING AND FISH FARMING.
MY GOVERNMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTNG THE DEFENCE FORCE IN EXECUTING ITS MILITARY OPERATIONS AND OTHER CIVILIAN ROLES EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY. FOR US TO ACHIEVE MEANINGFUL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THERE IS NEED FOR THE DEFENCE FORCE TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN REMODELLING OUR COUNTRY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
MY GOVERNMENT HAS EMBARKED ON THE MODERNISATION OF THE DEFENCE FORCE TO BRING IT TO THE LEVEL OF OTHER MODERN DEFENCE FORCES. AS SUCH, MY GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF THE DEFENCE FORCE BY ACQUIRING MODERN EQUIPMENT TO ENSURE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS.
THE ACQUISITION OF THIS MODERN EQUIPMENT IS A LONG TIME INVESTMENT AND AT GREAT COST TO MY GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA. THEREFORE, I, EXPECT YOU TO TAKE CARE OF THIS EQUIPMENT BY ENSURING HIGH STANDARDS OF MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY.
MY GOVERNMENT’S DESIRE IS FOR THE DEFENCE FORCE TO CONTINUE FOSTERING PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED COUNTRIES TO ACHIEVE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CIVIL MILITARY SECTORS.
I, THEREFORE, WISH TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK WITH OTHER NATIONS WITH WHOM YOU CAN COLLABORATE WITH, BILATERALLY, TO EXPLOIT THE POSSIBILITY OF BENEFITTING FROM VARIOUS TRAINING PROGRAMMES. LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT MY GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE GROWTH THROUGH PARTERNERSHIPS AND JOINT OPERATIONS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
MY GOVERNMENT IS ALIVE TO THE CRITICAL ISSUES FACING THE ZAMBIA DEFENCE FORCE PERSONNEL. WE REMAIN RESOLUTE TO IMPROVING THE WORKING AND LIVING CONDITIONS OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
GOING FORWARD, MY GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE DEFENCE FORCE LONG TERM INFRASTRUCTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES. THIS ALSO CALLS FOR THE DEFENCE FORCE TO DEVELOP A FUTURISTIC APPROACH IN ORDER TO IMPROVE ITS CURRENT STATUS QUO.
I ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE FOSTERING CLOSER COLLABORATION BETWEEN MY GOVERNMENT AND THE DEFENCE FORCE IN OUR QUEST TO DRIVE THE COUNTRY’S TRANSFORMATION INTO A MORE PROPEROUS NATION.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS THE MOST DEDICATED ZAMBIA DEFENCE FORCE PERSONNEL TO NATIONAL DUTY. THE FORCE HAS CONTINUED TO GIVE EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY. YOUR UNEQUALLED CONDUCT HAS REMAINED ABOVE BOARD. THE UNITY WITHIN THE DEFENCE FORCE IS INDEED A REFLECTION OF OUR ‘ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION’ MOTTO.
YOUR EXEMPLARY CONDUCT TO NATIONAL DUTY CAN NOT GO UNNOTICED. AS YOUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, I AM PROUD OF YOU!
YOU HAVE REMAINED POLITICALLY NEUTRAL THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS LEADERSHIPS OUR GREAT NATION HAS HAD. I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE BEING PATRIOTIC AND LOYAL TO THE CONSTITUTION, THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA. YOU MUST ALWAYS PLACE NATIONAL INTEREST ABOVE SELF INTEREST.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I WISH TO CONCLUDE BY CONGRATULATING ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN PUTTING UP SUCH A PARADE WITH GREAT POMP.
ONCE AGAIN, LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE THE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE THE ZAMBIA DEFENCE FORCE CONTINUES TO RENDER TO THIS GREAT NATION. YOU HAVE NOT SLACKENED IN YOUR NATIONAL DUTY OF FOSTERING PEACE, UNITY AND DEVELOPMENT. YOU HAVE CONTINUED WITH YOUR UNEQUALLED AND SELFLESS SERVICE BY ENSURING THE SAFETY OF OUR TERRITORY.
MAY GOD ALMIGHTY BLESS THE ZAMBIA DEFENCE FORCE AND THIS GREAT NATION! HAPPY ZAMBIA DEFENCE FORCE DAY!
I THANK YOU.
