The Acting Minister of Defence, Honourable Mike Mposha MP noted with admiration and great pride the high quality of military education the Zambia Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) continues to offer. He added that the high quality professional military education has not only raised the profile of the college locally but in the region, continent and beyond.
Hon Mposha was speaking when he graced the 25th Zambia Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) graduation ceremony held in Lusaka on Friday, 01 December 2023.
The Minister applauded DSCSC for working towards supplying appropriately qualified graduates to the Zambia Defence Force and other allied countries.
He mentioned that the New Dawn Government’s vision of a ‘United and Prosperous Zambia provides equal opportunities for all, including the men and women in uniform.
He also mentioned that Zambia has been a beacon of peace for decades and in that regard has earned international recognition.
Hon Mposha encouraged the DSCSC to continue the exchange programs for students and directing staff in order to enhance professionalism, international integration, cooperation and create bonds of friendships for the defence forces.
Speaking earlier, DSCSC Commandant, Brig Gen P Samatamba highlighted that a graduation is a special occasion as it is a culmination of hard work, the actualization of goals attained and the acknowledgment of successes achieved.
Brig Gen Samatamba pledged that the DSCSC will continue preparing graduates for high level command and staff positions.
“To my graduates I say congratulations, we are proud of your accomplishments and hope that the experiences and knowledge you have acquired at the College have prepared you for the future,” said the Commandant.
During the ceremony, deserving graduating students were awarded accordingly. The Best Local Student Air Wing Student was bagged by the Zambia Air Force Fighter Pilot, Maj K Sichilima while Lt Col M Chimuka got Second Best Local Student Air Wing. The Best Local Student Army Wing award went to Lt Col PS Chibbonta while Col N Mulenga was awarded Second Best Local Student Army Wing as she also scooped Best Commandant’s Paper and Best DSS Student while Lt Col A Chirwa was awarded Second Best DSS Student.
Best Allied Students Army wing went to Maj Absu Abesekara from Sri-Lanka and Maj I k Tanui from Kenya was Second Best Allied Student Army wing and also bagged second Best Commandant’s Paper, while Squadron Leader T Siveregi from Zimbabwe was Best Allied Student Air Wing and Maj A W Muthoni from Kenya was awarded Second Best Allied Student Air Wing.
The graduating students comprised of students drawn from the Zambia Defence Force and Security Wings and 23 allied students from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sri-Lanka, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.