ZNS must revert to being Zambia’s development catalyst
By Mwape Musonda
IN THE early years of Zambia’s independence, the Kenneth Kaunda-led United National Independence Party (UNIP) envisioned a national defence force that was more than just a protector of sovereignty. The Zambia National Service (ZNS), established in 1971, was born out of this bold and progressive vision.
It was not merely to serve as a military institution but also as a productive force that would uplift Zambia’s development through agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure development. Today, however, that noble vision appears to be fading as ZNS increasingly leans towards militarisation, departing from its original mandate of nation-building through production.
Under the stewardship of President Kenneth Kaunda, ZNS was tasked with the dual responsibility of defending the nation and transforming the economy through productive activities. The idea was simple yet powerful. Rather than create a standing army that only trained for war, Zambia would invest in a force that could till the land, build infrastructure and impart practical skills to the youth. In Kaunda’s Humanism philosophy, production was a patriotic duty and ZNS was its torchbearer.
At the core of ZNS’s early mandate was the training of school leavers in various craft and technical skills. Thousands of young Zambians were enrolled into ZNS training camps upon completing secondary school. Here, they did not merely undergo basic military drills but were also taught agriculture, bricklaying, carpentry, tailoring, mechanics and food processing, among others.
This initiative served a dual purpose where it addressed youth unemployment and equipped the country with a semi-skilled workforce capable of contributing to Zambia’s industrial and agricultural growth.
ZNS became a symbol of productivity and discipline. Its farms across the country produced maize, wheat, vegetables and livestock which helped to stabilise food supply and promote food security. Its workshops and vocational schools produced furniture, clothing and mechanical parts while ZNS-trained artisans and technicians went on to work in both the private and public sectors. In many ways, ZNS was Zambia’s silent engine of growth, operating in the background but leaving a lasting impact.
But fast forward to the present day, and the ZNS we see is a shadow of its former self in terms of productivity. While it remains visible in national ceremonies and security operations its developmental and productive role has diminished.
Increasingly, ZNS appears to function as a conventional military force, focused more on border patrols, defence drills and ceremonial roles than on the broader development agenda it once championed, for which it was created.
One cannot deny that the world has changed and with it, Zambia’s security dynamics have evolved. However, this shift towards full militarisation has come at the cost of ZNS’s developmental role. The productive arm of the institution has been underfunded, underutilised and in some cases, completely sidelined. Its training centres have seen a drop in vocational enrolments and its farms and workshops no longer contribute meaningfully to national food production or industrial output.
This is not just a nostalgic lamentation but a realisation of a missed opportunity. Zambia still faces enormous developmental challenges, particularly in construction, agriculture and youth unemployment. ZNS remains uniquely placed to tackle these issues. With its vast land, established infrastructure and disciplined personnel, the defence wing could play a transformative role in national development if properly directed and funded.
In the construction sector, for example, Zambia spends billions on infrastructure projects awarded to foreign companies such as AVIC International, a Chinese state-owned enterprise. While AVIC’s work is appreciated, it begs the question on why Zambia can’t empower its own state-owned enterprise, ZNS, to undertake such projects?
ZNS has already proven its capacity in constructing feeder roads, milling plants and public infrastructure. With greater investment and a clearer policy direction, it could rival foreign firms, creating jobs and retaining capital within the country.
We are therefore calling on the government to consider redirecting ZNS to its founding purpose. It must reinvest in ZNS’s production units, equip its vocational training schools and scale up its involvement in agriculture and construction. A reinvigorated ZNS could help reduce dependency on foreign contractors, provide employment for thousands of young Zambians and contribute directly to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) through production and exports.
Furthermore, by restoring ZNS’s dual mandate, the government will be building a sustainable model of defence and development, one that not only prepares the country for external threats but also strengthens its economic foundations. This would be in keeping with Kaunda’s original vision of a Zambia where “every citizen is a producer”.
As we conclude, we want to state that it is time our country reimagined the role of ZNS in the 21st century. While national security remains essential, development is equally critical for our long-term stability and prosperity. A balanced approach that restores ZNS’s productive legacy can serve the nation far better than a narrow focus on militarisation when we already have the Zambia Army and Zambia Air Force (ZAF).
We acknowledge that the private sector is currently the main driver of production and manufacturing in the country. However, we call on the government to embrace a mixed economy model where both private enterprise and state-led initiatives coexist and thrive. In this model, ZNS should be positioned as the lead engine of government productivity, spearheading key sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure and skills development.
By revitalising ZNS to run like a state-owned production and productivity powerhouse, Zambia would secure not only its territorial integrity but also its economic resilience. Let ZNS once again become the builder of roads, the trainer of our unemployed youth, the grower of food and the foundation of Zambia’s self-sustaining development. The dream is not lost. It only requires focused investment and bold political will to bring it back to life.
Mwape Musonda is an accountant and youth activist
