ZAMBIA ARMY STATEMENT ON ARMY RECRUITS ATTACKING MUFULIRA RESIDENTS – ARMY
The Zambia Army is deeply concerned about an incident that took place yesterday, 05 October 2024, in Mufulira involving a Section of Army Recruits based at Taung Up Barracks.
Reports received indicate that three of our Recruits were attacked by a group of taxi drivers in the Central Business District of Mufulira resulting in one of them receiving various body injuries and has since been admitted to Ronald Ross Hospital. We are further informed that on seeing their injured comrade, the other two recruits called for reinforcement from their fellow recruits, who consequently engaged in acts of violence and disturbances against civilians, resulting in injuries and property damage.
We wish to unequivocally condemn this behaviour by our Recruits. The Zambia Army is mandated to serving and protecting the people of Zambia. Any actions that violate our mandate are unacceptable and will not be condoned.
A thorough investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and to identify those responsible.
The perpetrators will face appropriate disciplinary measures, in accordance with the provisions of the Defence Act Chapter 106 of the laws of Zambia.
We extend our sincere apologies to the affected individuals and communities.
However, in line with the unfortunate incident in Mufulira, the Zambia Army would like to urge members of the public to co-exist with soldiers, and refrain from provoking or harassing Army personnel, especially Recruits who are just beginning to understand tenets of good soldiering.
Provocative behaviour can lead to dangerous situations and undermine the trust between the Army and the public.
The Zambia Army is committed to preserving the sovereignty and defending the territorial integrity of the Republic of Zambia, and contribute to the maintenance of world peace.
Let us work together to maintain peace and harmony in our country and communities. We are a People’s Army.
(Signed)
Sydney Mwewa
Lieutenant Colonel
Army Spokesperson
The Zambia Army
The main problem the civilian always want to undermine our officers in Uniform which is not a right to do , people have no respect to our soldiers . Let’s learn to respect our officers please
Useless Zambia Army! You allow your foolish recruits to abuse the public and pretend shedding crocodile tears with an apology.
What an undisciplined army you’re training if misguided recruits can turn on the public they are supposed to protect!!
You surely can’t and shouldn’t tolerate that kind of behaviour in the Army. Did you even do any vetting before you took those idiots on?
This is a clear sign that we don’t have competent Army Officers that can manage or train officers into a competent and disciplined force. We should go back to the drawing board and start again. Meanwhile dismiss the current crop of useless officers that we have in the useless army.
The behaviour of the recruits is disgraceful and the only recourse is dismissal. They donot deserve a place in the Zambia Army. Unfortunately, this is not the only incident of recruits harassing members of the public.
Zambia Army needs to send a very clear message to its personnel that thugs have no place in the army. They can join call boys at bus stations if they can’t fit in the army.
These incidents recur because thay seem to have the tacit approval of the top brass in the army. How did the recruits leave the barracks without the knowledge of senior officers? It is a serious security breach and exposes the senior officers as out of touch with what is happening in their backyard.
Recruits/soldiers are supposed to exhibit high levels of discipline even under extreme provocation. How do you entrust the security of the nation to such volatile characters? Do they really understand their role and their interactions with us civilians?
They are not our masters, neither are they above the law.