LIVINGSTONE, Friday, July 15, 2011 Republican President, Rupiah Banda, has urged newly-graduated Zambia Air Force (ZAF) officers to guard against contracting HIV/AIDS.
The President said this here today when he officiated at the commissioning parade of graduating ZAF officer cadets who have just completed one year of military and professional training.
The Head of State, who is also Commander-In-Chief of the Zambian armed forces, observed that HIV and AIDS had negatively affected the fitness of military personnel, hence the need to mainatin a high level of moral discipline.
“I wish to warn you about the dangers of HIV/AIDS which poses a serious threat to the effectiveness of our defence force. As a defence force, we have lost a number of skilled manpower from this scourge I, therefore, wish to advise you, our young men and women graduating today, to treat HIV/AIDS as your number one enemy,” he said.
President Banda said the military career required officers to be fit at all times, and that they could only remain so if they looked after themselves well and displayed good moral standards befitting a well disciplined body of men and women in uniform.
The President also urged the graduating officers to be alert at all times as the Zambia’s security lay on their shoulders.
“Do not relax or take peace for granted; be alert and on guard at all times. You must always approach your duty with professionalism and decorum. Peace is a catalyst to economic development and it must always be upheld. Remain non-partisan and serve with loyalty, commitment and without fear,” the President said.
The Head of State challenged female graduates to rise to the challenges of military life by aspiring for promotion like their male counterparts.
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