Mbala Special Forces Training School was yesterday reverberating with sounds of deafening gunfire, cheers of appreciation and in some cases screams of fear as scores of commandos showcased their combat skills in a high-octane live-fire demonstration during their pass-out parade.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FWSJHuuSe/?mibextid=oFDknk
What started as a peaceful ceremony with crisp drills and salutes quickly transformed into an adrenaline-fueled spectacle, with spectators’ eyes fixed on the intense action unfolding before them.
As the demonstration climaxed, some women and children, joined by their husbands and fathers respectively were seen running to seek shelter as the training area erupted into a simulated war zone.
The pass-out parade for Intake 10 commandos took a dramatic and unexpected turn when the trainees traded karate kicks for live-fire drills, transforming the ceremony into a thrilling display of military might.
The demonstration began with mesmerizing displays of physical prowess: soldiers effortlessly broke concrete tiles with their bare hands, lay serenely on nail beds like they were on a tranquil spa retreat, and scaled towering walls the height of FINDECO House with agility and precision, leaving the crowd wide-eyed in wonder.
However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically when the commandos transitioned to live-fire drills. Gunshots burst forth like rapid-fire explosions, sending alarm through the crowd. Pandemonium erupted as women clung to nearby random men, shrieking in surprise and fear.
The sudden barrage prompted a frantic exodus among the crowd. Men, adopting heroic roles, promptly intervened to shield women, who were vociferously expressing fright.
From the ensuing chaos, individuals from the crowd fled in all directions, prioritising self-preservation above all else. One disoriented child was heard crying and looking for his mother whom he could only identify as ‘Bana Muzo’.
Even trained law enforcement officers and military personnel were caught off guard with their composures being compromised by the intense gunfire.
No one was immune to the chaos, even senior government officials were almost joining the relay to safety as gunfire disregarded protocol and position.
In the end, calm and peace returned as the chaos was just a demonstration of the special forces’ combat skills.
The parade was graced by Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma accompanied by Northern Province Minister Leonard Mbao, Muchinga Province Minister Njavwa Simutowe, Ministry of Defence Permanent Secretary Maambo Hamaundu, Zambia Army Commander Lieutenant General Geoffrey Zyeele and Zambia Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Oscar Nyoni, among others.
The Special Forces Intake 10 of 2024 started their training on August 19, 2024 and yesterday, May 2, 2025 markers the end of their grueling training.
Story and pictures by Catherine Pule
Kalemba, May 3, 2025
