Challenges are strategic opportunities, not dead ends, ZNS command tells officers
Chief of ZNS Monze Milling Plant, Brigadier General Kebby Mweene (second right) officiating. - Picture by Zambia National Service
By Hellen Bwalya and Ashton Kelly Bunda
The Zambia National Service (ZNS) Southern Region has closed the year with a strong call for resilience and strategic thinking, urging officers to view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks.
The message was delivered during the Southern Region Officers’ Annual Ball, an event that also served as a platform for unity, reflection and forward planning.
Representing the Zambia National Service Commander, Lieutenant General Engineer Maliti Solochi II, the Chief of ZNS Monze Milling Plant, Brigadier General Kebby Mweene, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the need to transform institutional mindsets across the Service.
Brigadier General Mweene directed particular encouragement to recently commissioned officers, stressing that challenges within the Service should never be perceived as signs of failure.
“Officers should always realize that challenges in the Service are not dead ends, but opportunities for strategic correction and growth,” Brig. Gen. Mweene said.
Brig. Gen. Mweene commended the Southern Region for its performance, noting that Command was satisfied with the steady progress of various activities being implemented in the region.
In his address, Brig. Gen. Mweene positioned ZNS far beyond its traditional military role, describing it as a key driver of national development.
“The Zambia National Service is not just a military institution, but a significant national asset and a driver of development that should inspire confidence both in government and the private sector,” Brig. Gen. Mweene said, adding that ZNS remains “a source of hope and a trusted partner in building a resilient, food-secure and economically robust Zambia.”
Brig. Gen. Mweene highlighted the Southern Region’s tangible contributions to national development, including infrastructure development, agricultural production, livestock and fish farming, milling operations and sports development through the Green Eagles Football Club in Choma.
Earlier, the President of the Mess Committee, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Valentino Chanda, officially opened the event and thanked all officers and cooperating partners for their support.
Brig. Gen. Mweene said the occasion provided an opportunity to reflect on the past year’s achievements while strategically planning for the future.
The ZNS Southern Region Officers’ Annual Ball was held on December 19, 2025, at the ZNS Choma Unit, serving as what Brig. Gen. Mweene described as “a moment of reflection, appreciation and renewed commitment to duty.”
