Abstract
Background: Over time, the Zambia Defence Force adjusted the career progression instructions to ensure systematic and timely promotions of commissioned officers. However, the amendments did not yield the intended results.Objectives: The study examines the adequacy of career progression instructions in influencing the promotions of commissioned officers in the Zambia Defence Force.Method: This study employed a mixed-method research design which specifically applied convergent parallel design involving qualitative and quantitative research approaches. A total of 209 commissioned officers were selected using a multi-stage sampling method. Purposive sampling was used to select 12 Brigadier Generals, four from each Service. Questionnaires and an interview guide were used to collect data from commissioned officers and key informants, respectively. Statistical Package for Social Sciences and Microsoft Excel were used to analyse quantitative data, while the content and thematic analysis were used to analyse qualitative data.Results: Most commissioned officers (84.2%) revealed that they were aware of the career progression instructions that were needed to guide their career path in the Zambia Defence Force. The majority of commissioned officers, 122, expressive of 58.3%, revealed that career progression instructions did not foster systematic promotions of commissioned officers. Furthermore, 112 commissioned officers, signifying 54.1%, indicated that their promotions were not timely.Conclusion: The career progression instructions inadequately facilitated the career progression of commissioned officers in the Zambia Defence Force.Contribution: The inadequacy of career progression instructions in the Zambia Defence Force was documented in this article.