Government Clarifies Commissioning of President's Son into ZNS

The Ministry of Information and Media has addressed misinformation circulating on social media regarding the commissioning of Lieutenant Habwela Hichilema, son of President Hakainde Hichilema, into the Zambia National Service (ZNS).

Permanent Secretary Thabo Kawana states that Lieutenant Hichilema successfully completed the standard officer selection process which includes physical, medical, oral, and written assessments all of which candidates must pass to qualify for training and commissioning, with failure at any stage resulting in automatic disqualification.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. Kawana emphasized that Lieutenant Hichilema received no special treatment, adding that to avoid bias, he was assigned a training name that concealed his identity from instructors and fellow cadets.

Mr. Kawana notes that throughout the program, Habwela shared meals, accommodation, and drills with other cadets, lived in a standard four-man cubic, and participated in all required activities including a week-long bush exercise where he dug and slept in a trench.

He further reveals that Lieutenant Habwela accepted disciplinary actions when necessary and never displayed entitlement, with most of his peers and instructors only learning his identity after the commissioning ceremony.

This clarification follows public speculation after the recent commissioning of several new ZNS officers.

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