Namibian President hails ZNS FOR strengthening youth training

…as 1,000 recruits successfully complete National Youth Service Training

By Hellen Bwalya and Ashton Kelly Bunda

Namibian President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has commended the Zambia National Service (ZNS) for its continued support in strengthening youth skills development in Namibia, describing the partnership as a symbol of enduring solidarity between the two nations.

Speaking as Guest of Honour at the 16th Intake National Youth Service (NYS) pass-out parade , where 1,036 recruits successfully completed six months of basic service training, President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the achievements witnessed were the result of strong intergovernmental cooperation.

“What you have achieved from training is the result of efforts by your Government in collaboration with other Governments,” Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah told the graduates, emphasizing the value of regional partnerships in building resilient and empowered youth.

The President highlighted that under the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Zambia National Service deployed instructors for the 16th intake and directly trained 11 Namibian officer cadets.

Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed profound gratitude for Zambia’s role in enhancing Namibia’s training capabilities.

“We are very grateful to the Government of the Republic of Zambia for that support. These partnerships reflect the enduring solidarity between our nations, which is rooted in the liberation struggle and carried forward through shared development,” Dr. Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah added that such cooperation strengthens not only defence and youth development structures, but also cements a shared vision of stability, empowerment, and mutual progress within the region.

Meanwhile, in an interview the Deputy Zambia National Service (ZNS) Commander and Chief of ZNS Staff Major General Reuben Mwewa who was representing the Zambia National Service Commander Lieutenant General Engineer Maliti Solochi II, applauded Namibia for its steadfast commitment to regional cooperation and youth empowerment, describing the country’s 16th National Youth Service (NYS) pass-out parade as a resounding testament to what unity and shared purpose can achieve.

Maj Gen Mwewa said Zambia remains deeply honoured to stand with Namibia in shaping the next generation of patriotic and skilled citizens.

“Today’s ceremony is more than a graduation, it is a celebration of regional solidarity in action. The success of these 1,036 young men and women is proof of what our nations can accomplish when we pool our strengths and invest in each other’s future,” Maj Gen Mwewa said.

Maj Gen Mwewa reaffirmed Zambia’s unwavering commitment to the long-standing cooperation between the two countries, noting that the deployment of seven ZNS instructors to support the 16th intake and the training of 11 Namibian officer cadets in Zambia reflects a partnership built on trust and shared aspirations.

“Our collaboration is not symbolic, it is practical, impactful, and forward-looking. From the liberation struggle to today’s development agenda, Zambia and Namibia continue to march side by side. We are proud to contribute to Namibia’s youth development mission, just as Namibia continues to stand with us on multiple fronts,” Maj Gen Mwewa emphasized.

ZNS deployed seven (7) instructors to support the 16th intake of the National Youth Service Training in Namibia through a partnership which is a culmination of a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between the Zambian Ministry of Defence and the Namibian Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts & Culture for the training exchange program signed in May 2024. – Zambia National Service (ZNS)