File: General Kingsley Chinkuli gets sworn in as first indigenous Army Commander by first republican President Kenneth Kaunda in 1971 at age 27.
The Zambia Army was formed from the remnants of the former constituent forces of the disbanded Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). The Federation was disbanded on 31 December 1963.
At independence, on 24 October 1964, the Army was relatively small basically for two reasons. First, its basic role was to protect the white settlers against black (Zambian) aggression of any kind. It was a protective force to maintain white class domination and supremacy.
The second reason was that the population was relatively small to manage and maintain a huge army economically. This trend was the same throughout Africa.
After independence, the role of the Army changed to the defense of the country against foreign aggression and to maintain the territorial integrity of Zambia.
The Organisation of African Unity, OAU, now the African Union masterminded this idea.
Africa was preparing itself to grow militarily because of the overall threat from the Cold War between the two superpowers of the US and the USSR.
Kwame Nkrumah, the most ardent advocate of Pan-Africanism called for the formation of a strong African Defence Force and the first republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda was one of the pioneers.
This meant that the UNIP government had to adopt a new strategy in the evolution of the army and other support elements. The Zambia Air Force had to be created from scratch to support the Army operations in the air. The Home Guard was created in support of the Army. The school cadet; Zambian Combined Cadet Force, training component was created and beefed in support of the Army.
From 1964 to 1970, the Army was run by British officers and men inherited from the federal forces. This meant that all units without exception were in the hands of British officers and men till President Kaunda, as Commander-in-Chief, decided to Zambianize all key positions in the Army and Air Force on 28 December 1970.
“I witnessed this process because I was then an officer cadet transiting to my commission come January 1971.” Kaunda did it in a style of a military coup. All white commanders and officers were prohibited from entering any barracks or military cantonments as of 1 January 1971. Selected Zambian officers had taken over various positions as commanders at different levels by midnight. We had a different New Year, 1971, and we rejoiced to see our own in positions of great influence and authority.
The Army had only about three infantry battalions and several supporting units dotted around the country.
No brigades, no regional commands, no special services units, no training schools, no military intelligence units, and nothing of substance could be attributed to the departing white officer leadership and ownership.
The key issue now was to expand the army in personnel and equipment (armament). This, therefore, involved mass recruitment of both officers and men and coupling it with infrastructural development in terms of barracks and housing units throughout the
country.
The threats emanating from the Rhodesian impasse, the unliberated territories of Portuguese Africa, Angola, Cabinda Enclave, and Mozambique, and the Apartheid South Africa and South West Africa (Namibia) became strong criteria in the expansion of the Zambian Army and its auxiliary forces.
Kaunda had sent several young officers to different countries in the world for training in many areas of staff and command positions. Others went for special forces training to consolidate the strength of the Army.
Meanwhile, the liberation struggle in Southern Africa had intensified and this called for complete commitment from the young Zambian officers.
President Kaunda decided to appoint several deserving officers to command positions. Here we see Colonel, then, Godwin Kingsley Chinkuli becoming Army Commander at the tender age of 27 years. Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Ndabila Mibenge became Chief of Staff while several other officers were appointed to various strategic positions in the Army. “There was jubilation at this by all ranks in several barracks. This was a new dawn for us. We began to see many promotions and other prospects on the horizon. This takeover was on 01 January 1971.”
As it were, the officers had assumed high responsibilities and had to live like them. President Kaunda gave them all the support needed for a new nation and a new Army.
The Army handled the incursions from the unliberated territorial forces in Southern Africa with a high degree of courage, competence, and professionalism. You all know what transpired. Southern Africa was liberated from colonialism and apartheid and this goes to the pride of the Zambian forces.
General Chinkuli and his team captained the Army professionally and left it at a level where now UN-supported operations have become the order of the day.
The highlights left by the Chinkuli team were the formation of various battalions, brigades, and regional commands covering all provinces (regions). The army’s strength increased so was the accompanying equipment and other military hardware.
Under Kaunda, officers and men underwent political education training and this broadened the outlook of the officer corps in particular and men and women in general.
Kaunda brought in the women’s corps in the Army, starting with the only female officer Maj Siwale in 1976 or thereabouts.
He had the intention to create the now famous Staff and Command Training College, a highest military training establishment equivalent of a military university, but it was President Frederick Chiluba who had it born with General Nobby Mbonga Simbeye, as Commander. This now accepts students from many countries in Africa and from various services which are non-military.
There is also the Zambia Military Academy (ZMA), the equivalent of the famous Royal Military Academy, RMA at Sandhurst, England. This has produced excellent officers like the likes of General Isaac Soda Arizona Chisuzi, who rose through the ranks to even become an Army Commander. Most of its current leadership is drawn from this institution known as the Military Training Establishment of Zambia, MILTEZ, under which ZMA falls.
Of recent, in the history of the Army, is the establishment of Formation of Military Commands in all regions or provinces. This means that the Army, in particular, is represented throughout the country just like the Zambia Police.
In conclusion, the Zambia Army is now a formidable force in the Southern African region, and am proud to have been associated with its formation and growth during part of my career.
Credit: Col Hamwiinde Munamunungu (rtd)/ Zambia Daily Mail
ZAMBIA ARMY; DEFEND AND SERVE WITH PRIDE (10/02/2023)
Caption: General Kingsley Chinkuli gets sworn in as first indigenous Army Commander by first republican President Kenneth Kaunda in 1971 at age 27