THE MILITARY UNIFORM BELONGS TO THE NATION, NOT THE RULING PARTY Zambia’s democracy is a masterpiece of peace, painted by the hands of everyday citizens and guarded by the silence of the uniform. I am a man of the military and intelligence services. I love and respect the men and women in uniform. I have […]

THE MILITARY UNIFORM BELONGS TO THE NATION, NOT THE RULING PARTY

Zambia’s democracy is a masterpiece of peace, painted by the hands of everyday citizens and guarded by the silence of the uniform.

I am a man of the military and intelligence services. I love and respect the men and women in uniform.

I have not only trained as a military person, but I have also invested many years studying the military and war sciences. And, I am still doing that to this very day. No country can make or has made much progress without paying adequate time and deploying sufficient resources to  these institutions. And, a correct doctrine is required.

Equally, I pay a lot of attention to our military and intelligence services.
For decades, our nation has stood as a beacon of stability on a continent, too often fractured by strife. This legacy was not built by chance. It was forged through a sacred, unspoken contract, that those who carry the weapons of the state will never wield them to tip the scales of political power.

Today, that contract faces the subtle erosion of public suspicion.The strength of the military lies in its invisibility in civil politics. When rumours of favouritism, business conflicts, and sectarian division touch the highest offices of our defence forces, it shakes the very ground we walk on.

It does not matter if these allegations are fully proven or born of political anxiety. The mere whisper of compromise is a danger.

As such, Army Commander Lieutenant General Geoffrey Zyeele, Zambia Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Oscar Nyoni and Commandant Lieutenant General Maliti Solochi should understand that true military professionalism does not just require actual fairness, it demands the absolute appearance of it.

Every citizen, regardless of their ethnicity or race, their religion or denomination, or their political party affiliations, must look at a general and see a protector. Our commanders must remember that wealth accumulated in public service is a heavy burden to justify.

True honour can not be bought through state procurement contracts or measured in private bank accounts. The highest rank is not a license for enterprise. It is a profound debt owed to the private soldier standing guard in the rain and the taxpayer funding the military uniform.

When institutional lines blur, the vital trust between the public and the defence force begins to snap. We must guard the gates of our Republic with fierce transparency.

Civilian oversight mechanisms, judicial independence, and an active civil society are not obstacles to military command. They are the essential guardrails that keep our march on the path of democracy.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia must run our elections, and the Constitution must dictate our loyalty. Let the uniform remain a symbol of unshakeable unity. Our peace is too precious to lose to the career or tenderprenuerial ambitions of individuals.

Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party