President Hakainde Hichilema and his lifelong bond with the men and women in uniform.
By Lengwe Cornelius Bwalya
Long before he wore the sharp suits of a president, 18 year old Hakainde Hichilema wore heavy military boots. In 1980, he was sent to a tough Zambia National Service (ZNS) camp. President Hakainde Hichilema attended the old Mushili Military Camp in Ndola for his Zambia National Service (ZNS) training. He completed the rigorous 20 month compulsory training program for school leavers.
Life in the camp was brutal. Stern military instructors shouted orders at 04:00 AM sharp. Under the blazing hot sun, young Hakainde dug deep trenches, ran until his legs ached, and carried heavy logs on his bare shoulders.This camp changed his life forever.
It did not break him, it built him. It taught the future president how to be tough, how to respect the chain of command, and exactly what ordinary soldiers go through to protect Zambia. He never forgot those lessons.
A friend of the Barracks. In 2021, President Hakainde Hichilema achieved the ultimate honor. He became the President of Zambia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force. Right away, he showed the military that he was still one of them.
HH did not just sit in his fancy office talking to generals. Instead, he packed his bags and visited the actual barracks, air bases and camps, He attended all prassout and commissioning parades. He took time to sit down and listen to the low ranking officers and everyday soldiers to fix their problems.
To show his deep respect, he made a major change for soldiers sent on United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions. He ordered that they receive 100% of their allowances to take home to their families. He even maked video calls to peacekeepers far away and met with retired defense chiefs to ensure they are well cared for.
President Hakainde Hichilema opened the gates to mega recruitments for decades, joining the military or security wings in Zambia was an impossible dream for most youth. Only a lucky few were picked, and many felt you needed to know someone important to get in. President Hichilema smashed those gates wide open.He ordered the largest military recruitment drives in Zambia’s history. He opened the doors for thousands of young men and women to join the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, ZNS, and the Zambia Police Service.
By 2024, his administration celebrated a historic milestone, nearly 5,000 new army recruits graduated all at the same time! Most importantly, HH made sure the hiring was 100% fair. It did not matter what tribe you belonged to or who your parents knew.
If you were physically fit and worked hard, you got the job.
President Hakainde Hichilema turned servicemen into food heroes. HH realized that a strong Zambia National Service could do more than just carry weapons, they could also fight hunger since that was their core business. He gave the Zambia National Service a massive new mission, to feed the nation. Under his direct orders, ZNS farms transformed into booming agricultural centers. They planted massive fields of maize and wheat. The government equipped them with giant tractors and modern milling plants. Soon, ZNS was producing affordable mealie meal, Zambia’s main staple food.
The President’s move brought down prices and saved countless families who were struggling with the high cost of living. HH successfully turned ZNS servicemen and women into heroes of food security.
Mr. Hakainde Hichilema is a President who leads by example. Many powerful leaders shield their own children from hard work, but not HH. To show the country how much he values military discipline, he brought back voluntary youth training. Then, he did something that shocked the entire nation. He enrolled his very own son, Lieutenant Habwela Hichilema, into the grueling ZNS military training. Habwela received zero special treatment. Lt Hichilema did not get a soft bed or fancy food. He slept in the exact same tents and marched in the exact same thick mud as every other youth.On graduation day, President HH stood proud in the crowd watching his son finish the course. By sending his own blood into the trenches, he proved to the nation that if the military is good enough for the President’s son, it is good enough for every single Zambian.
Today, Zambian military officers and soldiers march with pride, knowing that the Commander-in-chief at State House is a leader who once marched in their very same shoes.
About the Author:
Lengwe Cornelius Bwalya is a career diplomat as well as an International Relations and Security expert.
President Hakainde Hichilema and his lifelong bond with the men and women in uniform
