He completed his primary education in Strellc i Epërm and Isniq, and later attended secondary school at the "11 Maji" Gymnasium in Peja.

In his second year, at the suggestion of General Ramiz Abdyli, he transferred to the Military Academy of the Yugoslav Ground Forces in Belgrade, where he encountered 28 other Albanian cadets, including Ahmet Krasniqi.

[3] Throughout his military service, Zemaj gained significant experience, which he later utilized in the decade long struggle for Kosovo's independence.

Additionally, Çekaj advised Zemaj to connect with American forces at the Center for Intelligence and Counterintelligence for Southeastern Europe in Augsburg.

[3] Bujar Bukoshi, the former Prime Minister in exile of the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosova from 1991 to 1999,[4] created the FARK in Albania with a few dozen former Kosovo Albanian officers like Zemaj of the JNA gathered by Sali Çekaj.

[6] Zemaj's involvement with the KLA was marked by his attempt to implement organized military strategies and tactics which where essential in winning the first Battle of Loxha.