Implications of a Non-Unified Command System and the Need for a Unified Command System in Zambia.

摘要

This thesis is an attempt to discuss the implications of a non-unified command system and the need for a unified command system in the Zambia Defence Forces (ZDF). It further discusses the need for enhanced operational effectiveness and integration at both strategic and operational levels in times of crisis. This effort provides an analysis of the historical perspective, and both political and strategic implications of having a non-unified command system. It focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of a non-unified command. The thesis discusses how historical aspects have affected the ZDF structure, modeling it into one system after another and analyzing some factors that forced these changes. This paper draws insights from the experiences of both super powers and other African states during conflicts and contingencies; it also draws from interviews of retired Zambian senior officers who served in both systems. The conclusions and recommendations are further backed by the findings from a survey which concluded that the current generation of men and women in ZDF uniform are eager for a unified system. In the end, the paper argues that a unified command system provides synergy to military efforts and, as such, is an inevitable necessity for any national defence structure in Today's world. All in all, the paper stresses the importance and recommends that Zambia adopt a unified structure.