DO NOT TURN THE ZAMBIA ARMY INTO A POLITICAL BATTLEGROUND

The recent political landscape in Zambia has witnessed an increasingly troubling trend where political contestation spills over from legitimate critiques of government policy into direct attacks on state security institutions, most notably the Zambia Army and its senior leadership. Writing on this critical national issue, Dr. Martin Mushumba has strongly cautioned political players across the divide against converting the military into a political battleground. In the aftermath of the electoral cycle, questions regarding security deployments, institutional conduct, and electoral administration have frequently shifted from constructive dialogue into partisan rhetoric designed to score cheap political points. Dr. Mushumba rightly points out that while no public institution in a robust democracy should be immune to accountability or investigation when wrongdoing occurs, there is a fundamental and dangerous difference between holding an entity responsible and systematically eroding public trust in it. The Zambia Army is an embodiment of national sovereignty, operating under civilian authority and the supreme law of the land. It does not belong to any ruling administration or opposition faction; it belongs wholly to the Republic of Zambia. Dragging its personnel and leadership into the mud of partisan polarization damages civil-military relations and creates unnecessary friction between citizens and those tasked with national defense. Historically, Zambia has prided itself on maintaining a professional and disciplined defense force that stands outside the immediate passions of electoral politics. When political actors make sweeping, unsupported allegations of partisan capture against the military, they threaten the institutional stability that takes generations to build. Soldiers remain on duty long after political actors leave office, and their primary allegiance must remain untainted by political machinations. Public confidence, once shattered, is immensely difficult