Who are the Zambia Army Special Forces?

"FEAR NOT DEATH BUT DEFEAT". These are the words that make up the mantra of Zambia Army Special Forces and embody both the warrior spirit and the fighting ethos of Zambia's elite fighting force only known by many as, 'Commandos'. As common men with an uncommon desire to 'fight and win', Special Forces have been called upon in times of uncertainty and the swiftness and precision with which they have executed their tasks has inspired great intrigue and fascination. Contrariwise, undertaking mainly covert operations and rarely in the public eye, the question that still lingers in several minds remains, "who are the Special Forces?"  In this article, whilst admitting that a complete and concise summarization of the topic is not feasible, I will briefly look at the Zambia Army Special Forces, who they are, their history and how they have evolved over the years.

A Historical Perspective

Throughout history, Special Forces have played an important role in the conduct of warfare. Also known as Special Operations Forces (SOF), Special Forces are military units specially trained to conduct 'unconventional' law enforcement or intelligence operations using 'unconventional' combat skills, tactics, equipment and modes of employment. These operations may be performed independently, or in conjunction with conventional military operations but are typically carried out by a limited number of highly trained personnel that are adaptable, self-reliant and able to operate in different conditions and environments.

Historically, some of the first specialized units to be recorded include the Corps of Guides and the Gurkha Scouts both formed in the 1800s and deployed by the British Indian Army during the border wars. However, even long before then, legends of specialized troops were common. For example, during the late Roman or early Byzantine period, there is record of Roman fleets that used small, fast, camouflaged ships crewed by selected men for scouting and commando missions. Likewise, in 15th century Japan, ninjas or 'shinobi' were used for special operations such as reconnaissance, espionage and as assassins, bodyguards, fortress guards, or otherwise fought alongside conventional soldiers. Nevertheless, it was only until the Second World War (1939-1945) that modern special forces units begun to emerge.

The British Special Forces

For the British,  whose military history in the 1900s became intertwined with that of its colonies, British Commandos were formed after 1940 following Winston Churchill's call for "specially trained troops of the hunter class, who can develop a reign of terror down the enemy coast". The first modern special forces unit was the Special Air Service (SAS) formed in July 1941 from an unorthodox idea and plan by Lieutenant David Stirling.  The force initially consisted of five officers and 60 other ranks. Later, during the Burma Campaign of WW II, the British also employed the services of the Chindits who contained commandos (King's Regiment (Liverpool), 142 Commando Company) and Gurkhas specialized in long range penetration operations deep behind enemy lines. furthermore, it was during this period that troops from the Northern Rhodesia Regiment (NRR), were first exposed to special forces training fighting under British forces.

The Northern Rhodesia Regiment and Special Forces Training

On 10th March 1942, the 1st Battalion of the NRR, the precursor of the Zambia Army, embarked on the Pulaslei at Kalindi and Sailed to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) together with other Battalions making up the 21st Brigade. Unlike any other place in the world, Ceylon offered the perfect terrain for jungle warfare training in readiness for deployment in Burma where jungle warfare was at play. Notably, historians make special mention of the special training the Battalion from Northern Rhodesia (present-day Zambia) underwent with the famous Chindits which would later prove to be of immense value as they eventually had to fight in the Burmese jungle. The training went on for over a year during which the troops were inspected by the General Officer Commanding for Ceylon as well as the Duke of Gloucester.

Zambia After 1964: The Birth of the Zambia Army Special Forces

After gaining independence from the British in 1964, the principle determining factor of military expansion in Zambia was its preoccupation with warding off external aggression from the Portuguese and other rogue white regimes in Southern Africa. This greatly stretched the Zambia Army and necessitated the creation of a special force to counter foreign attacks and incursions. Foreign attacks were exacerbated by the insurgency of Adamson Mushala who is believed to have been sponsored by foreign elements to destabilize the country.

To address the issue of foreign incursions in general and Adamson Mushala in particular, in October 1982, over Sixty-five (65) Officers and One Thousand Four Hundred (1,400) other ranks were formed up at the Zambia National Service (ZNS) Camp in Katete, Eastern Province, to undergo a Nine (9) months Commando training programme with the North-Koreans. By the end of the training, only Thirty-eight (38) Officers and Seven Hundred and Thirty One (731) Soldiers qualified and successfully completed the course. Shortly after the training, on 9th November, 1983, the First Republican President Dr K D Kaunda officiated at the pass out parade, and on that very day, 1 Commando Unit was born and commissioned. Later, in April 1984, the commandos were moved from Katete to the camp in Ndola which was also formerly under ZNS.

Notable Achievements of the Zambia Army Special Forces

Since creation, the Zambia Army Special Forces have performed a number of operation and on several occasions have been called upon to provide aid to civil authorities. Of course, given the nature of the operations performed by special forces world-wide, it is neither ideal nor possible to list all or most of them, however, some of the well-known and notable ones include:

a.      1986 - Controlled food riots in Kitwe;

b.      1988-1990 - Checked RENAMO incursions in Eastern Province;

c.      1990 - Foiled Mwamba Luchembe's Coup attempt;

d.      1993 - Participated in UN Ops in Mozambique;

e.      1994-1995 - Participated in UN Ops in Rwanda;

f.       1996-1997 - Participated in border security operations;

g.      1997 - Foiled Captain Steven Lungu's (Captain Solo) Coup attempt.

Recent Expansion of the Zambia Army Special Forces

48 Marine Unit

On 26 July 2015, the 48 Marine Unit was established as a Special Forces Unit in order to improve maritime security and actively promote local and trans-boundary aquifer management. The Unit, which is stationed in Nchelenge District in Luapula Province and is made up of specially trained personnel is primarily tasked, inter alia, with securing the Luapula River bordering Zambia, its neighbours and Lake Mweru Wantipa.

Special Forces Training School (SFTS)

Special Forces training is perhaps the most intense and rigorous form of military training and demands both physical and mental toughness. At the SFTS in Mbala, Northern Province, special forces training is designed to develop in individuals self-confidence, determination, leadership, physical and mental robustness as well as initiative and professional skills. The training is further conducted with great realism and as near to actual field and operational conditions as possible. Indeed, it takes  nothing less than Three (3) years to begin molding and to produce a well trained and effective Commando.

Most recently, in September 2019, the Zambia Army put up a demonstration of operations under Advanced Special Forces Training at the SFTS in Mbala.  At the the event, the President of the Republic and Commander-In-Chief of the Defence Force, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, promoted Special Forces Group Commander Colonel Augustine Chirwa to the rank of Brigadier General and stated that his administration was keen to see a well grounded defense force, and particularly one that was grounded in professionalism, discipline and loyalty. 

The images below are courtesy of Smart Eagles who covered the event.