Zambian Army

The Zambia Army, with Lieutenant General William Sikazwe as Commander, is part of the Zambian Defence Force. Like all branches of the Zambian military, citizens of the nation are required to register at 16, and citizens can join at 16 with parental consent or at 18 when they are classified as adults by Zambia. There is currently no conscription. (There was 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 65, when there is a mandatory retirement. Its first Major General was Michael Grigg, appointed by Kenneth Kaunda. The first local Commander was Gen Kingsley Chinkuli. According to the 2014 CIA World Factbook:

  • 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 70 in the world.[1]
Australian Governor General Quentin Bryce inspecting the Zambia Regiment in Lusaka.

Organisation

The current Army organisation is as follows:[2][3]

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

Equipment

Small arms

Vehicles and towed artillery
Photo Name Origin Type Versions In service Notes
T-54/55  Soviet Union Main Battle Tank 25[5] Deliveries in 1976 and 1981.
PT-76  Soviet Union Light tank 50[5]
Ratel  South Africa IFV 14[6]
BTR-70  Soviet Union APC 20[5]
BTR-60  Soviet Union APC 13[5]
WZ551  China APC 6X6 WZ551B variant.[5] 20
Buffel  South Africa APC Rhino variant. 1[5]
Ferret  United Kingdom Armoured car 28 Inherited from Northern Rhodesian security forces.[5]
BRDM-2  Soviet Union Scout car 44 Acquired in 1981.[5]
BRDM-1  Soviet Union Scout car 44 Acquired in 1980.[5]
D-30  Soviet Union Howitzer 24[5]
M-46  China Howitzer Type 59. 18[5]
BM-21  Soviet Union MLRS 50[5]
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References
  1. http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/zambia/zambia_military.html
  2. http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36502:zambia-defence-force&catid=119:african-militaries
  3. 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
  4. Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  5. "Arms Trade Register". SIPRI. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  6. SA Ratels in Libya spur DA to call for investigation


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