THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL DEFENCE UNIVERSITY AS DIRECTED BY PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA TO BE ACTUALISED SOON
Friday 4th April, 2025:
LUSAKA – The Steering Committee for the establishment of the National Defence University has made a lot of progress following President Hakainde Hichilema’s directive that the plan be actualised.
On 19 November 2024 when he officiated at a book launch at the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Lusaka, President Hichilema, who is also Commander-In-Chief of the Zambia Defence Force, directed the Secretary to the Cabinet Mr. Patrick Kangwa to expedite the process of establishing the National Defence University.
Since then, the Steering Committee for the establishment of the National Defence University has embarked on a process of coming up with a curriculum, preparing a roadmap and holding benchmarking visits to countries that have National Defence Universities.
The National Defence University is expected to provide undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in agriculture, aeronautic engineering, defence and security studies, international relations, economics and political science.
The Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force and Zambia National Service has seconded senior officers of the ranks of Colonels and Brigadier Generals to sit on the Steering Committee.
Steering Committee Member Brigadier General Jethrow Chipili says meetings have been held with the Ministry of Education, the Higher Education Authority and National Defence Universities abroad.
Brig Gen Chipili says the committee has visited Kenya and Tanzania to benchmark their National Defence Universities which are fully operational.
“We conducted these benchmarking visits to see the modalities of opening our National Defence University in Zambia. These visits are important to leverage on best practices and conduct a comprehensive assessment on this concept,” said Brig Gen Chipili.
He said this when the Steering Committee paid a courtesy call on Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary Mr. Maambo Haamaundu.
Brig Gen Chipili said the Zambia Defence Force runs several education institutions such as the Defence Services Command and Staff College and the Defence School of Health Sciences which are accredited with other education institutions.
“With the coming of the National Defence University, all common user facilities that offer education under the Ministry of Defence will be affiliated with the National Defence University,” he added.
Brig Gen Chipili also said a National Defence College is also needed to train senior military and senior civil servants in various leadership roles in government.
And Steering Committee Chairman Brigadier General Ben Banda said a roadmap has been finalized on the establishment of the National Defence University.
Brig Gen Banda has appealed to the Ministry of Defence to support the initiative and ensure it succeeds.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary Mr. Maambo Haamaundu has pledged the Ministry’s support to actualize the Presidential directive to actualize the National Defence University.
Mr. Haamaundu said the Ministry will work with the Steering Committee to see areas where support can be provided.
Ministry of Defence Director Human Resource Mrs. Milicent Mwenda and Director Research, Planning and Projects Mrs. Ireen Musonda Habasimbi accompanied the Permanent Secretary during the courtesy call.
Issued by:
Paul Shalala (Mr.)
Principal Public Relations Officer
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
(C) THE FALCON
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL DEFENCE UNIVERSITY AS DIRECTED BY PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA TO BE ACTUALISED SOON
