30 April 2008
editorial
Ndols — AS Major General Michael Mbao joins the long list of former Zambia National Service (ZNS) commandants, it will be important to heed his farewell message.
In saluting the service good bye in Lusaka yesterday, General Mbao said ZNS had potential to contribute to national food security and challenged its command to ensure it was transformed to meet this important obligation.
For, agriculture and food security were among the primary objectives of ZNS when it was established many years ago.
Apart from supplementing the Zambia Army and Zambia Airforce (ZAF) in times of war, there was room for the service to contribute to national development in many other ways.
Ever since compulsory military training for school leavers was discontinued in 1980, the emphasis for ZNS has been slowly shifting to the agriculture sector.
As a result, the Government ordered agricultural equipment worth K10 billion two years ago to help ZNS play its meaningful role.
Government, wading off pressure to disband the service, re-emphasised ZNS' capacity to engage in commercial ventures that can trigger national development.
What is required now is to restructure the service to make it self-sustaining and in the process reduce the heavy dependence on the Government for financial and material support.
General Mbao, who has been replaced by former deputy army commander, Major General Raphael Chisheta, said ZNS had the potential to meet all its obligations for the benefit of Zambia provided its officers remained focused, disciplined and dedicated to duty.
It is also our belief that ZNS has the skill and leadership to deliver.
Our humble appeal however, is for the Government to speed up the proposed ZNS reforms that are aimed at making the service pro-active to the needs of Zambians.
While there is no doubt that ZNS has performed well, the Government should ensure it utilised the servicemen and women countrywide for the good cause it was set out to achieve.
There are several ZNS units in the country engaged in various activities.
This means that the service can take advantage of its countywide presence to make Zambia self-sufficient in food.
The success of ZNS in establishing productive ventures throughout the country will mean Zambians benefiting and appreciating the presence in their midst of the men and women in green.
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