By Arnold Tutu
The Ministry of Defence will recruit a second cohort for the Zambia National Service -ZNS- Voluntary National Service Training programme this year.
Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary MAAMBO HAAMAUNDU says recruitment will begin after the inaugural cohort graduates in April 2026.
Mr. HAAMAUNDU says the first group of youths started training in September 2025 and is expected to complete the programme in April 2026.
The trainees are undergoing instruction at ZNS Chiwoko Training School in Eastern Province, ZNS Kitwe Training School on the Copperbelt, and ZNS Chishimba Training School in Northern Province.
Mr. HAAMAUNDU said this on Radio Phoenix adding that the programme follows a Presidential directive being implemented by the Ministry of Defence.
He said the first intake recorded 1,138 youths, exceeding the target of 1,092 drawn from the country’s 156 constituencies.
Mr. HAAMAUNDU said the number of trainees in the second cohort will remain unchanged because the three training centres can only accommodate a limited number of youths.
He said government wants the youths completing the training to use their skills to create jobs for themselves and for others.
Mr. HAAMAUNDU said government has several empowerment programmes which young people can access to start businesses.
“With the skills they acquire from the training, together with basic military instruction and discipline, they will develop a culture of hard work. They will become reliable employees not only for government but also for the private sector,” he said.
Mr. HAAMAUNDU said graduates of the ZNS Voluntary National Service Training programme will also have an advantage when government recruits personnel into the defence and security wings because they would have already undergone training.
This is according to a statement issued to the media by Ministry of Defence Principal Public Relations Officer PAUL SHALALA.
