•LUNGU

By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –

in Senanga
DEFENCE Minister Edger Lungu has advised military personnel manning border areas to continue being loyal and avoid acts of insubordination.
Mr Lungu said this when he visited military personnel manning the border with Angola at Sitoti Military Camp in Sioma District in Western Province on Wednesday.
The minister who interacted with the Zambia Army soldiers at the camp was glad that the morale among the officers was high despite various challenges they were faced with in executing their duties.
“President Sata who is your commander cares for you very much, hence the reason he has sent me to visit you and interact, to find out from you any challenges that you are facing and see how best they could be resolved,” Mr Lungu said.
He said the Government was committed to ensure military personnel in the country worked in a favourable environment and that their conditions of service were the best in the region.
“We intend to equip the military with the modern equipment, state-of-the-art technology and continue training you, to being the best in the region,” he said.
He said the Government would recruit more military personnel to beef-up staffing levels.
Zambia Army secretary, William Sikazwe, appealed to Government to consider recruiting more officers to beef-up staffing levels.
Brigadier General Sikazwe said the staffing levels in the Army had dwindled due to retirements and deaths hence the need to recruit more.
Mr Lungu also visited military personnel in Sesheke District manning the border with Namibia.
Mr Lungu is accompanied by Military assistant, Colonial Raymond Siakope, Gen Sikazwe and other military officers to check on military personnel manning border areas.
Earlier, the minister paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta at his palace in Mwandi District.