LIEUTENANT-GENERAL Geoffrey Zyeele, the newly appointed Commander of the Zambia Army, has outlined an ambitious vision to modernise the force and elevate its capabilities.
Zyeele, who assumed command on September 12, 2024, emphasised during the farewell parade for his predecessor Lieutenant General Sitali Alibuzwi, the importance of strategic leadership and mission command principles in achieving these goals.
He aims to foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and disciplined initiative among army personnel.
To achieve that Lieutenant-General Zyeele fully understands the weight of responsibility and expectation on his shoulders and is more than equal to the task
“As we bid farewell to General Alibuzwi, I also look toward the future and the path that lies ahead of us, in the Zambia Army. Under my command, we shall be committed to strategic leadership guided by mission command. We shall aspire to foster a culture of mutual trust, collaboration, and innovative leadership,” Gen. Zyeele said.
Under his belt, he said the Zambia Army Command will endeavour to self-reflect on its past to inform “our present and future.”
“That’s why starting 2025, we will start a pilot project of strategic corporals’ course programmes. We will focus on skills at arms, drill, physical training Information Technology, and clerical courses. Obviously, this will entail investing in training education, Information Technology and human resources management and placements,” Gen. Zyeele said.
Gen. Zyeele a thoroughbred military officer has along the way accumulated military excellence while investing in education.
He is a top academician in much as he is a very senior military personnel, two worlds that have put him head and shoulders above most.
His meteoric rise in the military started in 2000 when he served under 3 Infantry Battallion before he was elevated to Batallion second-in-command in 2001 in the same unit.
A Zambia Army publication says Gen. Zyeele was later posted to Zambia Defence Services Command and Staff College where he served as Directing Staff (DS) from 2005 to 2006.
From 2007 to 2009, Gen. Zyeele served as Officer1 Infantry Battalion and as Academy Commander Zambia Military Academy at the Military Establishment of Zambia (MILTEZ) in Kabwe from 2012 to 2013.
He returned to Staff College in Lusaka’s Kamwala area as DS and later as Chief Instructor Army from 2014 to 2015 upon his return from the prestigious United States Army War College (USAWC), which he attended from June 13 to June 14.
The US Army War College educates and develops leaders for service at the strategic level while advancing knowledge in the global application of Landpower.
Gen. Zyeele then served as Commandant at MILTEZ from 2015 to 2016.
In academia, Gen. Zyeele holds a Master’s Degree in Disaster Management Studies from Mulungushi University in Kabwe.
Other academic accomplishments include a PostGraduate Diploma in Public Administration from the University of Ghana, Internal Crisis Management, Peace Support Operations and Defense Management from Koffi Annan Peace Training Centre in Ghana.
From the USAWC, he returned with a Diploma in Military Education Services.
Lt Gen. Zyeele is also a holder of a Diploma in Strategic Studies from the University of Zambia.
His military career was shaped through exposure to a number of United Nations Missions where he held various appointments which, among others, include Zambian Battalion (ZAMBATT) 1 Second In-Command under the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).
The mandate of UNAMSIL to which Gen. Zyeele served was to cooperate with the Government of Sierra Leone and the other parties to the Peace Agreement in the implementation of the Agreement.
UNAMSIL was to assist the Government of Sierra Leone in the implementation of the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration plan and establish a presence at key locations throughout the territory of Sierra Leone, including at disarmament/reception centres and demobilisation centres.
He was also Force Military Information Officer and Military Observer under the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), whose mandate was to support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the peace process; protect United Nations staff, facilities and civilians; support humanitarian and human rights activities; as well as assist in national security reform, including national police training and formation of a new, restructured military.
Gen. Zyeele has been a Trainer of Trainers and a lecturer at Mulungushi University, the National Institute for Public Administration and a mentor-cum-facilitator at Kenya Peace Support Training Centre in Karen, which conducts training, education and research, informing military, police and civilian personnel in all aspects of peace support operations in order to improve the effectiveness of the response to complex emergencies.
He joined the Zambia Army as an officer cadet on August 19, 1983 together with Gen. Alibuzwi.
He was commissioned into the Corps of the Infantry on November 23, 1984 and served as Deputy Army Commander and Chief of Staff from August 30, 2021 until September 12, 2024 when President Hakainde Hichilema promoted him to the position of Army Commander and offered the lofty rank of Lieutenant General.
A family man, Lt Gen Zyeele is married to Regina Kabika and they have two sons, both Software Engineers.
“I wish to re-assure you that we shall remain committed to defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our mother land,” Gen. Zyeele said .
By Benedict Tembo
Kalemba November 28, 2024
