Zambia, South Africa Strengthen Defence Cooperation, Agriculture and Others.
By Raymond Enoch
In a renewed demonstration of regional defence cooperation and economic innovation, the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) Commander, Lt. Gen. Oscar Msitu Nyoni, has hosted a high-level delegation from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Logistics Division Production Brigade at ZAF Headquarters. The delegation, led by Vice Admiral David M. Mkhonto, paid a courtesy call to discuss shared experiences and opportunities in agricultural production, self-reliance, and regional stability.
During the meeting, Lt. Gen. Nyoni commended the SANDF for its visionary Project Koba-Tlala initiative, now transformed into the Production Brigade, which empowers reserve force personnel with vital skills in agriculture, animal husbandry, and technical maintenance. He emphasized that the ZAF, similar to its sister service, the Zambia National Service (ZNS), has taken on a non-traditional yet strategic role in advancing the government’s development agenda through agricultural production and economic diversification.
Highlighting the ZAF’s agricultural enterprises under the Ndeke Agriculture Company, Lt. Gen. Nyoni noted that farms located in Chisamba, Mumbwa, Lufwanyama, Siavonga, Mpika, and Mbala are contributing significantly to national food security, employment creation, and personnel skill development. He further stressed that defence institutions across the region have a shared responsibility to drive innovation, promote self-reliance, and strengthen regional cooperation to ensure lasting peace and prosperity.
In his response, Vice Admiral Mkhonto expressed appreciation for the warm reception and commended the ZAF for its practical achievements in agricultural production, which align closely with SANDF’s self-reliance principles. He reaffirmed the SANDF’s commitment to deepen collaboration with the ZAF, emphasizing that partnerships of this nature are vital for sharing best practices, enhancing operational capacity in food production, and addressing shared food security challenges in Southern Africa.
“This engagement reaffirms the enduring partnership between Zambia and South Africa — a partnership built on mutual respect, shared vision, and a steadfast commitment to advancing regional stability and development,” Vice Admiral Mkhonto stated.
The courtesy visit underscores a growing trend among African defence institutions to leverage agriculture and production brigades as engines for innovation, economic diversification, and sustainable peacebuilding across the continent.
