Army Commander, Lieutenant General Sitali Dennis Alibuzwi, has been inducted into the prestigious ‘International Fellows’ Hall of Fame of the United States Army War College, making him the first Zambian to enter US Army stardom.
This was at an induction ceremony honouring him and Major General Joseph Seelo of the Botswana Defence Force at Carlisle Barracks in Pennsylvania, USA yesterday.
Lt Gen Alibuzwi, the 73rd inductee since the hall of fame’s inception in 1988, has been recognised for his outstanding military achievement and commitment to leadership.
He joined the Zambia Army in August, 1983 and was commissioned in 1984. He has held several command and staff positions, rising through the ranks until he was appointed Zambia Army commander in 2021.
The United States Army War College was founded in 1901 and has produced notable alumni such as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and ex-Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari among others.
The Army Commander is one of 71 students from the class of 2013.
And Lt Gen Alibuzwi has hailed the US government as a peace partner for its role in the pre-redeployment and training of all Zambian Battalions ( ZAMBATTS) in the Central African Republic (CAR).
The Army Commander stated during his induction that the first uniform used by ZAMBATT I in its peacekeeping mission in CAR was donated by the US Army.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the US government and Army for its assistance since we first arrived in CAR.”
We received pre-deployment training support from the US Army from ZAMBATT I to ZAMBATT8, allowing us to deploy troops who are adequately prepared to carry out assigned missions and tasks,” he said.
The Zambia Army has participated in several United Nations and African Union-sanctioned peacekeeping missions, and the US Army has been at the forefront of providing medical, civil affairs, peacekeeping, and security training since its inception.
Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Dr Chola Milambo, represented the Zambian government at the ceremony and thanked the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force, Hakainde Hichilema, for allowing Lt Gen Alibuzwi attend the life achievement ceremony and asked the US government to offer more slots to Zambian Defence Force officers at the US War Army College.
The Army Commander was accompanied by his wife Stella, officers, and Zambians working in the USA.
His wife, who has lauded her husband’s achievement, has thanked the President for the once-in-a-lifetime gesture and has urged all Zambians to embrace the accomplishment as it is a national trophy.
Statement issued by:
Colonel Martin Kalaluka Liyungu
Army Spokesperson
