Police in Lusaka will keep FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi locked up in police cells after interrogating him for half a day today.
The interrogations were based on an article that Mr Chipenzi commented on in the privately owned Daily Nation Newspaper.
Below is the Article in question
The secret recruitment of police has been condemned as a conduit of fusing foreign trained militia into the mainstream police service.The police command has now been challenged to recruit in a fair and transparent manner to avoid such suspicions.
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has said the recruitment of about 1000 secret police had raised concerns among the people.FODEP executive director MacDonald Chipenzi has charged that the secret police recruitment had raised worries that it could be meant to infuse the foreign trained militia into mainstream police service with its favoured candidates.
Chipenzi has charged that the decision to recruit 1000 new police officers secretly through the submission of applications by prospective recruits at force headquarters as opposed to open provincial interviews had raised concerns that government had allegedly embarked on the training of militia.
It was wrong, he said for the service which was considered as one of the most corrupt institutions in Zambia to conduct the secret recruitment campaign.
Chipenzi told the Daily Nation in a statement that the secrecy surrounding the recruitment of police officers had raised suspicions that the Government had embarked on a recruitment of militia trained by some foreign countries to be infused in the police service.
He explained that the said foreign trained militia was being infused in the police service for further training so that they could be integrated into the country’s security wings.
The FODEP chief explained that the secrecy surrounding the recruitment exercise that is expected to commence today at the Force Police Headquarters in Lusaka was meant to shortlist the already ‘foreign trained’ persons in the police for further training at police colleges in Zambia.
“The Zambia Police’s decision to recruit about 1000 new officers secretly through the submission of applications by prospective recruits at Force Headquarters in Lusaka as opposed to open provincial interviews raises a lot of suspicions.”
“The police have not been sensitive on this issue because any secret recruitment of new police officers will raise serious suspicions in the face of already existing allegations from some quarters that government was recruiting militia in some countries who would later be integrated in the main security wings,” Chipenzi said.
Chipenzi said the recruitment of new police officers should be above board and transparent especially that the Zambia Police had been rated the worst corrupt wing of government by Transparency International.
He explained that the decision to recruit 1000 police officers secretly came at a time when the police command suspended its earlier announcement to hold public recruitment processes in provinces on account of the by-election in Mansa Central.
He wondered what could have caused the sudden shift in the normal recruitment exercise adding that his organization was wondering whether the recruitment that was suspended was different from the one government was currently conducting.“FODEP feels that the police command should be more clear, transparent and accountable in the recruitment process to avoid its name and reputation falling into public disrepute, Chipenzi said.
sourceDaily nation
Mr.Chipenzi was picked up from Long View Lodge in Chudleigh, Lusaka during a FODEP function at which former President Rupiah Banda officiated.
Mr Chipenzi was interrogated at Central Police until 15:30 together with Daily Nation Managing Director Richard Sakala who was later released.
Mr Sakala has however been asked to report to the police at 11 Hours for further questioning.
The two were questioned in connection with the article that alleged that the Zambia Police was undertaking a secret recruitment exercise that is meant to infuse the foreign trained militia into mainstream police service.
In the article, Mr Chipenzi had insinuated that the secret police recruitment exercise was aimed at setting up a militia wing for the PF government under the Zambia Police Service.
The Zambia Police Service claims they have postponed its widely anticipated recruitment of new officers for various reasons.
Below is the Statement from the Police
FROM : POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS
TO : ALL MEDIA
SUBJECT : RESPONSE TO SECRET POLICE JOBS EXPOSED ARTICLE
DATE : 11th DECEMBER, 2013
The Zambia Police Service is concerned with the malicious and unfounded article which appeared in the Daily Nation Newspaper Vol. 3. Issue 632 of 10th December, 2013 headed Secret Police Jobs Exposed.
In the first place the recruitment that is currently going on was publicly advertised in both print and electronic media and at no time did we as police recruit any kind of militia in the service. We would like to categorically state that both the submission of application letters and actual interviews were not done through police headquarters but had been decentralized to Provincial Police headquarters and supervised by Provincial Police Commissioners.
As much as there is the freedom of expression in Zambia, it is unprofessional for media houses to publish false news. The fabrication of false news causes fear and alarm to members of the public. According to section 67 of the penal code cap 87 of the laws of Zambia it is an offense and the authors of this story will be prosecuted.
CHARITY MUNGANGA-CHANDA
POLICE SPOKESPERSON
Website: www.zambiapolice.gov.zm
Email: [email protected]
Looks like a half baked story to me.Sensational if you ask me.I will wait till the police confirms and state the real reason behind his incarceration.
Half baked,, no NOT its a full baked story!,,, its looks like Sata wants to make his name like hero mandela ,,, by jailing people and nulifying elections
Explains why this story has no quoted sources.I saw it on Zwd too.
@Saulosi, why demand for full story. Its a SECRET police, why do you need details? The fact is that Chipenzi has been detained and probably his balls being squeezed as we sit and discuss…
@Nostradamus…i have no doubt that he has been arrested, but i have doubts when it comes to the reasons given in this article.Trust me tomorrow the police will say something else which Chipenzi won`t even refute.The problem with the media is that they are fond of sensationalizing stories in an attempt to attract more readers and comments.I wouldn’t take this as gospel truth if were you.
@Nostradamus…i have no doubt that he has been arrested, but i have doubts when it comes to the reasons given in this article.Trust me tomorrow the police will say something else which Chipenzi won`t even refute.The problem with the media is that they are fond of sensationalizing stories in an attempt to attract more readers and comments.I wouldn’t take this as gospel truth if were you
@Ba Saulosi, mwaponta… How can you put me in the category of taking “gospel of truth”. You have no doubt that Chipenzi is arrested?? Is it not just an interrogation and tormentation?
I think you having a bad day today Saulosi. I know its winter, and people are cranky, a cup, no a glass of hot cocao helps to cheer-up.
Hmm abena Nostradamus how did you know that i`m taking cocoa ? Now i have started getting scared.And the weather is cold too(-1º).Limbi mulibana babakulu imwe bakamba.Don`t worry he will soon be out tomorrow and talking.At least he will give his friend HH something to whine about tomorrow.
Folks
This is the kind of intimidation IDi Amini had put in place in Uganda in order carry out hideous crimes. He made sure that people remained mute even if they witnessed the state machinery committing crimes in broad day light.
One day the truth will come out. This time around there will be no forgiveness because these PF are repeating the mistakes Kaunda made. Kaunda was forgiven because that was first time such things had happened in Zambia. We shall hung them upside down. Just wait and see.
Uko Bomb scare in Kasama! Every one scampered in different directions.
Ukwa trying to cook a reason for a state of emergency so that he can then ban political activity other than that of the PF.
@Nostradamus and Saulosi
you guys are drinking cocoa? No no no!,,, cocoa is only taken by Slave traders and their partners,, me i not take/buy cocoa or eat/buy chocolate in Europe because i dont support slave trade,
so officially Nostradamus and Soulosi are promoting and marketing slave trade on lusaka times
@ndobo i read an article about the same.I almost stopped too, but at the end of the day the taste was too good to resist.I`m weak when it comes to resisting temptations,there are few good things in life i`m able to resist.Lol
Viva ZWD,! They are far ahead always and get it right 99% of the time. They predicted all the seats nullified today some time last month. Today they are saying Sata(the toilet master) will revisit his former work place to inject some life in him.
Viva ZWD! You Rock!
@Ndobo & Saulosi, I like that LoL.. slavery is the reason not to buy your girlfriend a Chitenge because of cotton. And because of poverty in Zambia, the big boss never drink bottled-water. And next time I go to Zambia, I will walk, because airplanes are polluting too much, causing global warming, and all those -1 temperatures.
@Nostradamus…ha ha ha.I like that.By the way have you seen that the story has now been updated ? I knew it was half baked.Ndobo am sure now you are ashamed for blasting me when i said it was half baked.Now this is the full story.Good night gentlemen.
@soulosi
hahahahaha.. quoting you `am sure now you are ashamed for blasting me`,,, me am not educated like you how is doing his PhD thesis and blogging on lusaka times every second… but blasting you? check my comment # 1.1 (not even directed at you) is not blasting but some humour there maybe… or maybe i dont understand your thesis meaning of blasting,.. otherwise i already knew that story from daily nation and ZWD…
@Nostradamus
Good for you with my latio mulamu she doesnot need a chitenge
Half baked,, no!!! its a full baked story!,,, its looks like Sata wants to make his name like hero mandela ,,, by jailing people and nulifying elections
I didn’t know the Lusaka times could publish one sided stories like this.Especially one quoting the daily nation nation newspaper.This story has Zambia watch d.og written all over it.
Boza,bufi,wenye,lies,mulabeja.
If you have never seen the tears of serpent, wait for 2016.
The guy was questioned quite alright but the reasons given here is a misrepresentation of facts.
Incomplete story indeed.There are too many assumptions and speculations in this.Next story please!!!
Thia article could have been one or two paragraphs.The provincial interviews were cancelled or maybe something happened later that i don’t know.
I don’t know this guy but from the picture, he looks like someone specializing in stealing office stationery. Based on his look alone, i would jail him straight away, if i was the supreme court judge appoint by His Excellency Micheal Chilufya Sata.
@Moneni
And your Sata looks like some one used to smell amfi yaku Victoria Station in London.
The guy looks sorrowful, “Mapenzi”
Before Mandela’s funeral has taken place.
Why couldn’t he left to go home and come back tomorrow?
Bus he ifyabupuba tafyakapwe? What is PF scared of kanshi they still think they are in opposition? Awe kuti mwanaka! Leave chipenzi alone Imwe BA buju
Ba Mwanza…..uyu muntu Chipenzi acimwa has commited an offence if anything a very serious one .
McDonald Chipenzi, this is the guy who is against duo citizenship. You now meet your waterloo for your reckless comments on every issue.
Chimbwi aitile impanshi awe nasho shamububa……..the chap has no facts alesabaila fye ngo wefumo sort him out.
READ OR LISTEN TO BARACK OBAMA’s EULOGY AT MANDELA’S FUNERAL CELEBRATION AT FNB STADIUM TO UNDERSTAND THE RAPE OF OUR DEMOCRACY
@Saulosi..how do you know Nostradamus and Ndobo are men? You just wished wished them goodnite!
recruitment process by itself causes alarm. anyway police itself knows why they have arrested Maphenzi.
I cannot understand why our journalists fabricare stories… Sure as open as the recruitment was you can have the audacity to say that… Mulapapisha elo mwalitumpa pa pompwe…
This is very serious, the militia will cause havoc in 2016. The sad part is that they will be ruthless to the vast majority including potential PF voters. ALL this is being spearheaded by Mmembe/Winter/Mutembo cartel so that they run away from paying what they owe. SATA is too old and sick to care about all this, he thinks he may not be there beyond 2016. Therefore, SATA wants to be the LAST democratically elected president for Zambia, just as Mandela was the FIRST democratically elected president of SA.
This militia recruitment should worry some people in PF especially GBM and camp because it will deal with “first things first”. And those “things” to be sorted will involve bringing order in PF. The rest of us will be attended to later.
Very sad. Very bad for the country that things like this can be happening. Time will tell.
Tonga lunatics at plat
Any newspaper worth its name should have carried out own investigations with the Police before publication.
Or the paper should have at least carried out both FODEP and Police side of the story and leave it to us to draw our own conclusion.
That is balanced reporting.
So then, the correct person to arrest would be … the person who published the story. Further, lying is not a crime — people do it all the time. If the police are not recruiting militants, let them just say so and let this man be.
This failed police state we are living in …
#OneZambia
Chipenzi talks too much , in the name of Freedom of Expression! , but such characters can easily sabotage your country. It is a duty of every Zambian citizen to safeguard peace , but again its everybody duty not to cause alarm!. Big Mouths will always reap what they say!