By Victor Simz

Commandants and Commanders 

Since its establishment in 1971, ZNS has been shaped by dedicated Commandants and Commanders whose leadership strengthened the Service as both a military force and a national development institution.

Early Commandant

  • Maj Gen C. J. Nyirenda
    1971 – 1976 (4 years, 168 days)
    First Commandant of ZNS. Guided the Service in its formative years.

Unified Command Era (ZNDF Commanders, 1976–1980)

During this period, the Zambia Army, Air Force, and National Service were placed under a unified Zambia National Defence Force (ZNDF) Command:

  1. Gen G. K. Chinkuli – 13 June 1976 – 24 April 1977 (315 days)

  2. Lt Gen P. D. Zuze – 24 April 1977 – 31 December 1978 (1 year, 247 days)

  3. Lt Gen B. J. Mibenge – 31 December 1978 – 9 October 1980 (1 year, 283 days)


Commandants of ZNS (1980–2021)

  1. Maj Gen T. M. Fara – Oct 1980 – Mar 1988 (7 years, 183 days)

  2. Maj Gen D. S. Zulu – Mar 1988 – Nov 1991 (3 years, 214 days)

  3. Lt Gen W. J. Funjika – Nov 1991 – Jun 2002 (9 years, 212 days)

  4. Maj Gen M. Mbao – Jun 2002 – Sep 2007 (4 years, 273 days)

  5. Maj Gen R. Chisheta – 1 Dec 2007 – 7 Apr 2010 (2 years, 127 days)

  6. Maj Gen A. S. Yeta – 7 Apr 2010 – 23 Sep 2011 (1 year, 158 days)

  7. Lt Gen Nathan Mulenga – 23 Sep 2011 – 30 Aug 2021 (9 years, 339 days)

  8. Lt Gen Maliti Solochi – 30 Aug 2021 – 14 Jan 2022 (349 days)

Current Commander

  • Lt Gen Maliti Solochi
    14 Jan 2022 – Present (3 years, 247 days)
    Oversees ZNS today, continuing its dual mission of defence and national development.

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