US Hands Over $5.8m Peacekeeping Facilities to Zambia

The United States Government has handed over modern infrastructure worth US$5.8 million to Zambia's Kenneth Kaunda Peace Training Centre (KKPTC), in a significant boost to the country's peacekeeping capabilities.

The new facilities are wide-ranging, comprising a 400-capacity dining hall, a multi-purpose warehouse, outdoor classrooms, an indoor engagement skills range and secure ammunition storage. Together, they are expected to transform the training environment at one of the continent's leading institutions of its kind.

Speaking at the handover, US Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Michael Coker said the investment would benefit thousands of future peacekeepers in the years to come, while helping KKPTC retain its standing as one of Africa's premier training centres. The facilities, he suggested, represent a long-term commitment to building capacity rather than a one-off gesture.

For Zambia, the handover was held up as proof of a productive and enduring relationship. Defence Permanent Secretary Maambo Haamaundu said the country's long-standing partnership with the United States was delivering tangible results, strengthening Zambia's ability to deploy well-trained, professional troops on international peace support operations across the region and beyond.

Centre Commandant Brigadier General Telenkako Banda echoed that optimism, describing the new infrastructure as an important step towards KKPTC's ambition of becoming a true centre of excellence. With improved facilities now in place, the Centre is better positioned than ever to prepare Zambian and regional forces for the demands of modern peacekeeping, reinforcing the nation's growing reputation as a reliable contributor to global peace and security.