REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA REMARKS DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA AT THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONY FOR SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE THURSDAY, 31ST DECEMBER, 2020 STATE HOUSE LUSAKA

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BEFORE WE GO FURTHER WITH OUR CEREMONY, MAY WE OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOUR OF OUR DEPARTED BROTHERS WHOSE LIVES WERE ABRUPTLY TAKEN AWAY IN VERY UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES, NAMELY, MR NSAMA NSAMA AND MR JOSEPH KAUNDA (SILENCE).

 

MAY THE SOULS OF THE DEPARTED REST IN ETERNAL PEACE.

 

THE EVENTS OF LAST WEEK HAVE NOT ONLY BROUGHT OUT SO MUCH SORROW TO THE FAMILIES OF THE TWO DEPARTED INDIVIDUALS; THE EVENTS OF LAST WEEK HAVE BROUGHT GRIEF TO THE WHOLE NATION.

 

AS PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE  FORCE, I MOURN WITH THE FAMILES OF THE DEPARTED.

 

INDEED, WE ARE HURTING AS A NATION, ESPECIALLY THAT WE DO NOT HAVE CONCLUSIVE AND DETAILED ANSWERS YET, EIGHT DAYS AFTER THE DEMISE OF OUR BROTHERS, NSAMA AND JOSEPH.

 

THIS IS WHY I HAVE DIRECTED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE TO EXPEDITE INVESTIGATIONS AND ALSO MAKE CHANGES IN THE POLICE SERVICE COMMAND, PART OF WHICH WE ARE WITNESSING TODAY.

 

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

YOUR APPOINTMENTS, THEREFORE, MUST SERVE AS THE BEGINNING OF THE CLEANSING OF THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE. YOUR IMAGE MUST BE THAT OF SERVANTS OF THE PEOPLE. TIMES ARE GONE WHEN PEOPLE USED TO RUN AWAY FROM POLICE OFFICERS INSTEAD OF SEEKING REFUGE FROM THEM.

 

THESE ARE MODERN TIMES, AND MODERN TIMES HAVE COME WITH MANY RIGHTS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT MUST BE RESPECTED.

 

INSPECTOR GENERAL,

I, THEREFORE, EXPECT FULL DISCIPLINE FROM YOUR OFFICERS. WEED OUT ALL THE CRIMINAL ELEMENTS FROM THE SERVICE. SPRUCE UP THE POLICE COMMAND AND REGAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PEOPLE.

I HAVE BEEN HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER BEFORE AND I KNOW

THAT YOUR JOB IS NOT EASY. MUCH AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE OPENLY SHOWN DISDAIN AGAINST YOU, THEY STILL NEED YOU. WE HAVE SEEN CITIZENS, OUT OF RAGE, TOTALLY DESTROY A POLICE POST, ONLY TO WAKE UP THE VERY NEXT DAY AND CRY FOR A POLICE POST IN THE SAME PLACE!

AS YOUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, I UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES YOU GO THROUGH, I UNDERSTAND THE DANGERS YOU COME ACROSS, AND I KNOW WHEN PEOPLE ARE GENUINELY COMPLAINNG AGAINST YOU AND WHEN THEY ARE BEING UNFAIR TO YOU.

 

SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DEMONSTRATE OR PROTEST AND YET SOME OF THOSE ACTIONS COULD LEAD TO A STAMPEDE OR VIOLENCE AND THEY WILL CRY OUT FOR YOUR HELP. THE SAME PEOPLE WILL ASK FOR YOUR RESCUE. SOMETIMES, IT IS INNOCENT PEOPLE, NOT PART OF PROTESTS THAT COME IN HARMS WAY.

 

THAT IS WHERE YOUR DUTES BECOME DIFFICULT. BUT YOU HAVE TO ENSURE THAT YOU MAKE THE RIGHT CALL ALL THE TIME SO THAT WE DO NOT END UP WITH DISASTROUS OUTCOMES.

HAVING SAID THAT, LET ME CONGRATULATE THE FIVE OF YOU ON YOUR RESPECTIVE PROMOTIONS TO THESE VERY SENIOR POSITIONS IN THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE COMMAND.

 

AND MAY I NOW ADDRESS YOU INDIVIDUALLY.

MRS. CHARITY MASAMBO KATANGA

DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (OPERATIONS)

YOU JOINED THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE AS A CONSTABLE IN 1996. YOUR RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT DURING THE 24 YEARS THAT YOU HAVE WORKED AS AN OFFICER OF THE LAW HAS BEEN REMARKABLE.

YOUR HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT TO DUTY HAS SEEN YOU RISE THROUGH THE RANKS FROM A CONSTABLE TO, AMONG OTHER NOTABLE RANKS, SENIOR LEGAL OFFICER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, AS WELL AS DIRECTOR FOR LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS.

ADDITIONALLY, YOU HAVE TWICE SERVED AS COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IN LUSAKA AND IN THE SAME POSITION IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE, NORTHERN PROVINCE AND UNTIL NOW, COPPERBELT PROVINCE.

THE COMBINATION OF YOUR SKILLS AS A POLICE OFFICER AND A LAWYER WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT IN THE EXECUTION OF DUTIES OF DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE IN-CHARGE OF OPERATIONS.

I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL EXECUTE YOUR DUTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE LAW.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY DOUBTED YOUR ABILITY TO RUN YOUR NEW OFFICE. JUST REMEMBER THAT WE ARE LIVING IN A SOCIETY WHERE, TO SOME EXTENT, WOMEN ARE STILL DOUBTED TO RUN SENIOR OFFICES. I AM SURE YOU WILL PROVE THEM WRONG AS YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.

I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT YOU WILL EXCEL IN YOUR POSITION, WITH THE SUPPORT OF OTHER OFFICERS AROUND YOU. COPPERBELT PROVINCE, WHERE YOU EXCELLED, IS A GOOD TRAINING GROUND FOR YOUR NEW POSITION. I HAVE NO DOUBT YOU WILL MAKE IT. SHOW THE DOUBTING THOMASES THAT YOU CAN DO IT.

1. RICHARD MWEENE

DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (ADMINISTRATION)

YOU ARE EQUALLY A SEASONED SENIOR POLICE OFFICER HAVING WORKED IN THE GOVERNMENT FOR 27 YEARS NOW, WITH YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT BEING THAT OF A TEACHER, IN 1993.

YOU JOINED THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE IN 1996 AS ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT IN LIVINGSTONE WHERE YOU WERE OFFICER -IN CHARGE – FRAUDS.

IN THE 24 YEARS THAT YOU HAVE DILIGENTLY SERVED THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE, YOU HAVE REMAINED LOYAL TO THE COMMAND AND RISEN THROUGH THE RANKS TO HOLD VARIOUS POSITIONS, INCLUDING, SUPERINTENDENT (FORENSICS) AT FORCE HEADQUARTERS FROM 1999 TO 2005.

 

BETWEEN 2005 TO DATE, YOU HAVE HELD THE RANKS OF SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER AND SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, DEPUTY COMMANDING OFFICER AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, COMMANDING OFFICER AT LILAYI TRAINING COLLEGE, DIRECTOR OF TRAINING AT FORCE HEADQUARTERS, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, COPPERBELT PROVINCE, AND COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, NORTHERN PROVINCE, A POSITION YOU HELD UNTIL NOW.

 

 

 

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WITH SUCH A CAREER BACKGROUND, YOU WILL HELP ADDRESS THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAPSES IN THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE BY RECOMMENDING ISSUES PERTAINING TO STAFF PROMOTIONS, WELFARE MOTIVATION, AND MORALE, AMONG OTHERS. THIS IS CARDINAL IF THE OFFICERS IN THE LOWER RANKS ARE TO PERFORM TO THE REQUIRED EXPECTATIONS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

 

I URGE YOU TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE PERMANENT SECRETARIES IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM THAT WILL ENSURE A MOTIVATED WORKFORCE. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE MINISTRY PROVIDES THE POLICY DIRECTION TO THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE.

 

1. GEZA ASIGI LUNGU

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE (EASTERN PROVINCE)

YOU ARE ALSO A SEASONED POLICE OFFICER HAVING SERVED WITH COMMITMENT AND LOYALTY TO THE COMMAND FOR 30 YEARS.  FROM 2ND APRIL, 1990 WHEN

SINCE YOU JOINED THE POLICE SERVICE, YOU HAVE EQUALLY RISEN THROUGH THE RANKS TO THE POSITION OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, SPECIAL DUTIES HERE AT STATE HOUSE, A POSITION YOU HELD UNTIL THIS PROMOTION.

AMONG THE KEY POSITIONS THAT YOU HAVE HELD DURING YOUR TOUR OF DUTY ARE THOSE OF PLATOON COMMANDER FOR THE PARAMILITARY BATTALION HEADQUARTERS AT LILAYI TRAINING COLLEGE, AND CHIEF TRAINING OFFICER AT KAMFINSA MOBILE UNIT.

 

YOU WERE ALSO DIRECTOR OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS, COMMANDING OFFICER FOR THE PARAMILITARY BATTALION HEADQUARTERS AT THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE HEADQUARTERS.

I AM EQUALLY CONFIDENT THAT WITH THIS WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE IN THE POLICE SERVICE, YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO BRINGING A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE TO YOUR NEW MISSION.

1. LIZZIE PETER MACHINA

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE (MUCHINGA PROVINCE)

YOU HAVE SERVED THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE WITH GREAT SENSE OF COMMITMENT, DEDICATION AND LOYALTY FOR 38 YEARS. THIS IS NO MEAN ACHIEVEMENT. CONGRATULATIONS.

 

YOU JOINED THE POLICE SERVICE ON 1ST JUNE IN 1982 AS A CONSTABLE. YOU HAVE HELD VARIOUS RANKS AND SERVED IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS. FROM BEING A SERGEANT, SUB-INSPECTOR, CHIEF INSPECTOR, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND UNTIL NOW DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE.

I CAN SAFELY SAY YOU KNOW THE POLICE SERVICE BETTER AND SHOULD HAVE NO DIFFICULTY IN YOUR NEW PORTIFOLIO.

 

I AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH YOUR VAST EXPERIENCE IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE, YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO TRANSFORMING THE WORK CULTURE OF THE OFFICERS UNDER YOUR COMMAND.

 

MR JESTUS SIAME NSOKOLO

COMMISSIONER OF POLICE (NORTHERN PROVINCE)

UNTIL THIS PROMOTION, YOU WERE THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AT LILAYI TRAINING COLLEGE.  YOUR PERFORMANCE OVER THE PAST 33 YEARS THAT YOU

HAVE SERVED THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE IS IMPRESSIVE.

 

SINCE 1ST SEPTEMBER, 1987 WHEN YOU JOINED THE POLICE SERVICE AS A CONSTABLE, YOU HAVE BEEN LOYAL, HUMBLE AND DEPENDABLE TO THE COMMAND.

 

YOU UNDERSTAND THE OPERATIONS OF THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE VERY WELL, HAVING SERVED IN NEARLY ALL THE LOWER RANKS BEFORE RISING TO THIS POSITION OF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE.

 

I EXPECT YOU TO CONTINUE WORKING HARD AND RECOMMEND TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE NEW IDEAS THAT WILL HELP TO POSITIVELY CHANGE THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE ZAMBIA POLICE

SERVICE.

 

IN CONCLUSION, AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO WORK IN UNITY WITH ALL OFFICERS ACROSS THE RANK AND FILE OF THE ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE.  I EXPECT YOU TO BE PROFESSIONAL, DISCIPLINED AND LOYAL.

 

WORK AS A TEAM AND THERE MUST NOT BE THIS CULTURE OF PULLING EACH OTHER DOWN SO THAT YOU GET TO THE TOP. UNITED YOU STAND DIVIDED YOU FALL.

 

HAVE REGULAR MANAGEMENT MEETINGS AND ENCOURAGE TEAM BUILDING.

 

THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE EXPECT A LOT FROM YOU. THE GREATEST ASSET OF THIS COUNTRY IS PEACE AND SECURITY. IT IS, THEREFORE, MY CALL TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO OFFER SUPPORT TO YOUR RESPECTIVE OFFICES IN ORDER FOR THE COUNTRY TO CONTINUE ENJOYING PEACE AND ORDER.

 

LET ME END BY DIRECTING YOU INSPECTOR GENERAL THAT HAVING HEARD OUR PEOPLE’S CRIES, UP YOUR GAME IN THESE SIX MONTHS I HAVE GIVEN YOU. IT CANNOT BE BUSINESS AS USUAL. CONCLUDE THE INVESTIGATIONS OVER LAST WEEK’S KILLINGS, THE NATION, ESPECIALLY THE FAMILIES, DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

 

THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR A PARADIGM SHIFT IN THE POLICE SERVICE, ESPECIALLY AS WE ENTER 2021, AND AS WE APPROACH GENERAL ELECTIONS.

 

THE ROAD WILL BE DIFFICULT TO NAVIGATE, BUT HEROES ARE MADE WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH.

 

TRANSFORM THE POLICE SERVICE AND EARN THE RESPECT OF THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE SWORN TO PROTECT.

 

ONCE MORE CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENTS AND LET ME WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY 2021.

 

GOD BLESS YOU, GOD BLESS THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA.

 

I THANK YOU.