Wikipedia

Zambian Army

The Zambian Army is the land military branch of the Zambian Defence Force. Like all branches of the Zambian military, citizens of the nation are required to register at 16 years old, and citizens can join at 16 years old with parental consent or at 18 years old when they are classified as adults by Zambia. There is currently no conscription. (There was a Zambia National Defence Force conscription from 1975 to 1980.) Applicants must be Zambian citizens and must have a school Grade 12 certification. Applicants must also undergo a test for HIV on enlistment. Personnel can serve until age 55, when there is a mandatory retirement. Its first Commander Major General was Michael Grigg, appointed by Kenneth Kaunda. The first local Commander was Gen Kingsley Chinkuli. According to the 2014 CIA World Factbook: The current National Army Commander is Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele and his deputy is Major General Luswepo Sinyinzawho who were both appointed by President Hakainder Hichilema on 12 September 2024. [1]

  • There are 3,041,069 men between 16-49 who are classified as manpower (this does not mean that all of them are fit for duty), and 2,948,291 women between 16–49 who are classified as manpower. This makes a total of 5,989,360 people classified as manpower.
  • There are 1,745,656 men who are classified as fit for military service between the ages of 16–49. There are 1,688,670 women who are classified as fit for military service between the ages of 16–49. Therefore, Zambia has 3,434,326 people fit for military service between the ages of 16–49.
  • 1.55% of the GDP of Zambia is spent on the military, ranked 70th in the world.[2]
Zambian Army
Founded1963; 62 years ago (1963)
Country Zambia
TypeArmy
RoleGround warfare
Size5,989,360 Active duty personnel
Part ofZambian Defence Force
HeadquartersLusaka
Motto(s)Defend and Serve with Pride
ColoursScarlet and Dartmouth Green   
Mascot(s)Buffalo
AnniversariesArmy Day: 28 December
EngagementsRhodesian Bush War

South African Border War

Mozambican Civil War
Commanders
Commander-in-chief Hakainde Hichilema
Minister of DefenceAmbrose Lufuma
Commander Lt Gen Geoffrey Zyeele
Deputy Army Commander Maj Gen Luswepo Sinyinza

Organisation

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The current Army organisation is as follows:[3][4]

Three infantry brigades:

  • 1 Brigade (Lusaka)
  • 2 Brigade (Kabwe)
  • 3 Brigade (Ndola)

With the following units:

  • 64th Armoured Tank Regiment (tank).
  • 17th Cavalry Regiment (armoured reconnaissance)
  • 10th Medium Artillery Regiment
    • 2 Artillery Battalions
    • Multiple Rocket Launchers Battalion
  • 1 Engineer Regiment, Mufulira
  • 6 Construction Regiment
  • Mechanised battalion
  • Zambia Regiment (raised in 1964 from the Northern Rhodesia Regiment)
    • Light Infantry
      • 1st Battalion
      • 2nd Battalion
      • 3rd Battalion
      • 4th Battalion
      • 5th Battalion
      • 6th Battalion
    • Reserve Infantry
      • 7th Battalion
      • 8th Battalion
      • 9th Battalion
  • 1 Commando Battalion
  • 48th Marine Unit
  • Specialist schools

Ranks

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Main article: Military ranks of Zambia

Commissioned officer ranks

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The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
  Zambian Army[5]
                    
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant

Other ranks

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The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
  Zambian Army[5]
             No insignia
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private
(or equivalent)

Equipment

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Small arms

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Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes
Pistols
TT-33[6]   7.62×25mm Semi-automatic pistol   Soviet Union
Makarov PM[6]   9×18mm Semi-automatic pistol   Soviet Union
Stechkin APS[6]   9×18mm Semi-automatic pistol   Soviet Union
Browning Hi-Power[6]   9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol   Belgium
Sub-machine guns
Sterling[6]   9×19mm Submachine gun   United Kingdom
Sten[6]   9×19mm Submachine gun   United Kingdom
Heckler & Koch MP5[7]   9×19mm Submachine gun   West Germany
Rifles
FN FAL[6]   7.62×51mm Battle rifle   Belgium
Heckler & Koch G3[6]   7.62×51mm Battle rifle   West Germany
Zastava M59/66[6]   7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle   Yugoslavia
AKM[6]   7.62×39mm Assault rifle   Soviet Union
AK-74[6]   5.45×39mm Assault rifle   Soviet Union
AK-63   7.62×39mm Assault rifle   Hungarian People's Republic
IWI Galil ACE[8]   5.56×45mm Assault rifle
Carbine 		  Israel
IWI Tavor[8]   5.56×45mm Bullpup
Assault rifle 		  Israel
Machine guns
DShK[6]   12.7×108mm Heavy machine gun   Soviet Union
SG-43[6]   7.62×54mmR Medium machine gun   Soviet Union
RP-46[9]   7.62×54mmR Light machine gun   Soviet Union
RPK[6] 7.62×39mm Squad automatic weapon   Soviet Union
PKM[6]   7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun   Soviet Union
KPV[6]   14.5×114mm Heavy machine gun   Soviet Union
Type 67[6]   7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun   China
FN MAG[6]   7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun   Belgium
Browning M1919[6]   7.62×51mm Medium machine gun   United States
Grenade launchers
RPG-2[6]   40mm Rocket-propelled grenade   Soviet Union
RPG-7[6]   40mm Rocket-propelled grenade   Soviet Union

Tanks

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Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
T-55   Medium tank   Soviet Union 25[10] INS Deliveries in 1976 and 1981.
PT-76   Amphibious Light tank   Soviet Union 30[10] INS
Type 59   Main battle tank   China 20[11] INS

Armored vehicles

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Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
BTR-60   Armoured personnel carrier   Soviet Union 13[10] INS
BTR-70   Armoured personnel carrier   Soviet Union 20[10] INS
BTR-80   Armoured personnel carrier   Soviet Union 20[12] INS
BRDM-1   Amphibious armored scout car   Soviet Union 44 INS Acquired in 1980.[10]
BRDM-2   Amphibious armored scout car   Soviet Union 44 INS Acquired in 1981.[10]
GAZ Tigr   Infantry Mobility Vehicle   Russia 35[13] INS GAZ-233014
WZ551   Armoured personnel carrier   China 20 INS 6X6 WZ551B variant.[10]
Ratel   Infantry fighting vehicle   South Africa 14[14] INS
Buffel   Infantry mobility vehicle   South Africa 1[10] INS Rhino variant.
Saymar Musketeer Armored car   Israel INS [15]

Anti-tank weapons

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Name Image Type Origin Caliber Notes
Carl Gustav M4[6]   Recoilless rifle   Sweden 84mm
M18[6]   Recoilless rifle   United States 57mm
M20[16]   Recoilless rifle   United States 75mm
9M14 Malyutka[17]   Anti-tank missile   Soviet Union 75mm

Artillery

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Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Self-propelled artillery
ATMOS 2000   Self-propelled   Israel 6 INS Mounted on a Czech 6×6 Tatra 10-tonne chassis.[8]
Elbit Spear MK2 Self-propelled mortar   Israel 6 INS Mounted on an Indian Tata Trucks LPTA 713TC 4×4 chassis.[8]
Rocket artillery
BM-21 Grad   Multiple rocket launcher   Soviet Union 50[18] INS
Field artillery
Type 59   Towed field gun   Soviet Union
  China 		18[10] INS
D-30   Howitzer   Soviet Union 24[10] INS
Mod.56   Howitzer   Italy 18[19] INS

Air defence systems

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Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
KS-12   Anti-aircraft gun   Soviet Union 16 INS
61-K   Autocannon   Soviet Union 40[18] INS
Zastava M55   Autocannon   Yugoslavia 50[18] INS

Unmanned aerial vehicles

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Name Image Type Origin In service Notes
Elbit Skylark   Miniature UAV   Israel 2[8]

References

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  1. ^ https://povonews.com/zambian-president-hichilema-fires-army-commander-dennis-sitali-alibuzwi/
  2. ^ "Zambia Military 2020, CIA World Factbook".
  3. ^ "Zambia Defence Force". 8 October 2014.
  4. ^ Lungu H. & Ngoma, N. (2005) The Zambian military—trials, tribulations and hope. In: Rupiya, M. (ed.) Evolutions and Revolutions: A Contemporary History of Militaries in Southern Africa. Institute for Security Studies, Pretoria: 331-329. ISBN 1-919913-82-3
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Munamunungu, Hamwiinde (1 May 2023). "Understanding Military Ranks". Zambian Observer. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  7. ^ Jones & Ness 2009, p. 514.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Zambian military parades new equipment". Janes. 2021-05-22. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  9. ^ Zambia Watchdog (2017-06-09). "Zambia dented, instability to continue up to 2021 – Economist Group". Zambia Watchdog. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j "Arms Trade Register". SIPRI. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  11. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2014, p.467
  12. ^ "Analysis: Zambia Defence Forces unveil new armored vehicles and military equipment | weapons defence industry military technology UK | analysis focus army defence military industry army". www.armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  13. ^ "The head of the military-industrial complex Alexander Krasovitsky: Russia delivered 35 armored vehicles "Tiger" to Zambia". ЦАМТО / Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade. 2021-08-27. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  14. ^ SA Ratels in Libya spur DA to call for investigation
  15. ^ "Zambia showcases new military hardware during military parade". defenceWeb. 2021-05-22. Retrieved 2021-08-29.
  16. ^ Gander, Terry J.; Cutshaw, Charles Q., eds. (2001). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001/2002 (27th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 9780710623171.
  17. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (14 February 2018). "The Military Balance 2018". The Military Balance. 118. Routledge.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b c Military Balance 2016, p. 476.
  19. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2018). The Military Balance. p. 495. ISBN 978-1857439557.

Works cited

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