Zambian Army

Land warfare branch of the Zambian Defence Force From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Zambian Army is the land military branch of the Zambian Defence Force. Like all branches of the Zambian military, citizens of the nation are required to register at 16 years old, and citizens can join at 16 years old with parental consent or at 18 years old when they are classified as adults by Zambia. There is currently no conscription. (There was a 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 55, when there is a mandatory retirement. Its first Commander Major General was Michael Grigg, appointed by Kenneth Kaunda. The first local Commander was Gen Kingsley Chinkuli. According to the 2014 CIA World Factbook: The current National Army Commander is Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele and his deputy is Major General Luswepo Sinyinzawho who were both appointed by President Hakainder Hichilema on 12 September 2024. [1]

  • 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 70th in the world.[2]
Founded1963; 63 years ago (1963)
Country Zambia
TypeArmy
RoleGround warfare
Quick facts Founded, Country ...
Zambian Army
Founded1963; 63 years ago (1963)
Country Zambia
TypeArmy
RoleGround warfare
Size17,100 Active duty personnel
Part ofZambian Defence Force
HeadquartersLusaka
MottosDefend and Serve with Pride
ColoursScarlet and Dartmouth Green   
MascotBuffalo
AnniversariesArmy Day: 28 December
EngagementsRhodesian Bush War

South African Border War

Mozambican Civil War
Commanders
Commander-in-chief Hakainde Hichilema
Minister of DefenceAmbrose Lufuma
Commander Lt Gen Geoffrey Zyeele
Deputy Army Commander Maj Gen Luswepo Sinyinza
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Organisation

The current Army organisation is as follows:[3][4]

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
  • 83 Parachute Regiment

Ranks

Main article: Military ranks of Zambia

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

More information Rank group, General / flag officers ...
Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
 Zambian Army[5]
General Lieutenant general Major general Brigadier Colonel Lieutenant colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second lieutenant
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Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

More information Rank group, Senior NCOs ...
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
 Zambian Army[5]
 No insignia
Warrant officer class 1 Warrant officer class 2 Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Private
(or equivalent)
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Equipment

Small arms

More information Name, Image ...
Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes
Pistols
TT-33[6] 7.62×25mm Semi-automatic pistol Soviet Union
Stechkin APS[6] 9×18mm Semi-automatic pistol Soviet Union
Sub-machine guns
Sterling[6] 9×19mm Submachine gun United Kingdom
Heckler & Koch MP5[7] 9×19mm Submachine gun Germany
Rifles
FN FAL[6] 7.62×51mm Battle rifle Belgium
Heckler & Koch G3[6] 7.62×51mm Battle rifle Germany
Zastava M59/66[6] 7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle Yugoslavia
AKM[6] 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Soviet Union
AK-74[6] 5.45×39mm Assault rifle Soviet Union
IWI Galil ACE[8] 5.56×45mm Assault rifle
Carbine		 Israel
IWI Tavor[8] 5.56×45mm Bullpup
Assault rifle		 Israel
Machine guns
DShK[6] 12.7×108mm Heavy machine gun Soviet Union
SG-43[6] 7.62×54mmR Medium machine gun Soviet Union
RP-46[9] 7.62×54mmR Light machine gun Soviet Union
RPK[6] 7.62×39mm Squad automatic weapon Soviet Union
PKM[6] 7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun Soviet Union
Grenade launchers
RPG-7[6] 40mm Rocket-propelled grenade Soviet Union
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Tanks

More information Name, Image ...
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
T-55 Medium tank Soviet Union 25[10] INS Deliveries in 1976 and 1981.
PT-76 Amphibious Light tank Soviet Union 30[10] INS
Type 59 Main battle tank China 20[11] INS
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Armored vehicles

More information Name, Image ...
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
BTR-60 Armoured personnel carrier Soviet Union 13[10] INS
BTR-70 Armoured personnel carrier Soviet Union 20[10] INS
BTR-80 Armoured personnel carrier Soviet Union 20[12] INS
BRDM-1 Amphibious armored scout car Soviet Union 44 INS Acquired in 1980.[10]
BRDM-2 Amphibious armored scout car Soviet Union 44 INS Acquired in 1981.[10]
GAZ Tigr Infantry Mobility Vehicle Russia 35[13] INS GAZ-233014
WZ551 Armoured personnel carrier China 20 INS 6X6 WZ551B variant.[10]
Ratel Infantry fighting vehicle South Africa 14[14] INS
Buffel Infantry mobility vehicle South Africa 1[10] INS Rhino variant.
Saymar Musketeer Armored car Israel INS [15]
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Anti-tank weapons

More information Name, Image ...
Name Image Type Origin Caliber Notes
Carl Gustav M4[6] Recoilless rifle Sweden 84mm
M18[6] Recoilless rifle United States 57mm
M20[16] Recoilless rifle United States 75mm
9M14 Malyutka[17] Anti-tank missile Soviet Union 75mm
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Artillery

More information Name, Image ...
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
Self-propelled artillery
ATMOS 2000 Self-propelled Israel 6 INS Mounted on a Czech 6×6 Tatra 10-tonne chassis.[8]
Elbit Spear MK2 Cardom Self-propelled mortar Israel 6 INS Mounted on an Indian Tata Trucks LPTA 713TC 4×4 chassis.[8]
Rocket artillery
BM-21 Grad Multiple rocket launcher Soviet Union 50[18] INS
Field artillery
Type 59 Towed field gun Soviet Union
China		 18[10] INS
D-30 Howitzer Soviet Union 24[10] INS
Mod.56 Howitzer Italy 18[19] INS
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Air defence systems

More information Name, Image ...
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes
KS-12 Anti-aircraft gun Soviet Union 16 INS
61-K Autocannon Soviet Union 40[18] INS
AZP S-60 Autocannon Soviet Union 30[18] INS
Zastava M55 Autocannon Yugoslavia 50[18] INS
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Unmanned aerial vehicles

More information Name, Image ...
Name Image Type Origin In service Notes
Elbit Skylark Miniature UAV Israel 2[8]
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References

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