It was my first time attending a Zambia National Service (ZNS) pass out parade, and though the nation’s attention seemed fixed on a single figure, what I witnessed went far beyond politics. Before me were a thousand stories that no headline could capture. What stood out most was the joy of ordinary citizens, families who had come in numbers to celebrate their own. They carried hampers filled with food, cakes, and small tokens wrapped with love. For them, this was more than a military ceremony, it was proof that their sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters had survived months of rigorous training. For years, many believed only those with strong connections could enter the military. Yet looking around the stands, I...