The University of Zambia (UNZA) and the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) today celebrated the successful culmination of their strategic partnership, graduating 69 student officers from the Diploma in Defence and Security Studies (DSS) programme. The ceremony, held at the Zambia Army Headquarters Banquet Hall, marked the 55th Graduation Ceremony for the Diploma and the completion of Course Number 27 of 2025.
The graduating class showcased the regional impact of the programme, comprising officers from twelve (12) different nations. The international cohort included students from Eswatini, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, in addition to Zambian officers.
Professor Boniface Namangala, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, delivered a speech on behalf of UNZA Vice-Chancellor Professor Mundia Muya, celebrating the enduring alliance between the University of Zambia and the Defence Services Command and Staff College. In his address, Prof Muya emphasised that their collaborative programme is "RELEVANT, POLICY-RELEVANT, AND TRANSFORMATIVE."
The Guest of Honour, UNZA Vice-Chancellor Professor Mundia Muya in a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs Prof Boniface Namangala, hailed the enduring alliance between the university and the Defence Services Command and Staff College. In his speech, Prof Muya emphasized that the collaborative programme was not only policy-relevant, but also transformative.
Addressing the graduands, the Vice-Chancellor underscored the significance of their achievement and future responsibilities, urging them to carry with them the ethos of service and excellence. “As you return to your respective nations and institutions, carry with you the ethos of service and excellence that this programme represents,” he stated. “Continue to learn, relearn, and lead with integrity,” he said.
Prof Muya reiterated that the celebration was not just an end to an academic journey, but “the beginning of new possibilities,” for a partnership poised to build a stronger, more internationally engaged future for defence and security studies in the region.
Meanwhile, the Commandant of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Brigadier General Marcellino Chiluba congratulated the student officers on completing the demanding academic journey. He highlighted the critical role of the newly acquired knowledge and skills.
Brig Gen Chiluba urged the graduates to effectively utilise the knowledge and skills for the betterment of their defence forces and countries at large. Furthermore, he expressed his sincere gratitude to the University of Zambia, stating that the College's association with such a remarkable institution gives it a sense of pride.