LUSAKA — One hundred and sixty Zambian soldiers returned to Lusaka at the weekend following a 14-month Southern African Development Community peacekeeping deployment in Cabo Delgado, northern Mozambique.
Defence Minister Ambrose Lufuma commended troops for professionalism during joint operations that reclaimed several district towns from Islamist insurgents. SADC mission commander said Zambian engineers played a key role in rebuilding bridges destroyed during conflict.
Families gathered at Lusaka Army Headquarters for a welcome ceremony attended by President Hakainde Hichilema. Veterans’ associations called for expanded post-deployment counselling services addressing trauma experienced in ambush incidents.
Regional security analysts said stability in Cabo Delgado protects Mozambique’s liquefied natural gas investments and SADC trade corridors linking Beira to Zambia’s Copperbelt. TotalEnergies resumed partial operations at Afungi peninsula last month.
Parliament’s defence committee requested a classified briefing on mission costs and future rotation schedules. Opposition MPs questioned whether prolonged deployments strain Zambia’s own border security resources.
