Impeccable government sources have revealed that Lusaka Police Commissioner Nelson Phiri has been suspended.
It is believed that Mr Phiri led the ill fated police operation which saw two people killed when UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema went for questioning at Police Service Headquarters.
But Police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo says she can neither confirm nor deny reports that Mr. Phiri has been suspended from his position.
When contacted for a comment, Mrs. Katongo said she was not in a position to confirm or deny the story and referred all the queries to Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo and Inspector general Kakoma Kanganja.
Mr Phiri’s phone went unanswered while that of Mr Kampyongo and Mr Kanganja were switched off.
And the UPND says the reported suspension of Mr Phiri is a mere cover-up.
UPND Presidential Spokesman Anthony Bwalya says it is now patently clear, that following the indiscriminate use of weapons of mass killing by the police, the Patriotic Front government is actively looking for scapegoats.
Mr Bwalya says this is in order to deflect and avoid taking responsibility for their lack of leadership, as well as their relentless appetite to use weapons of mass murder to intimidate and silence the voice of democracy in Zambia.
“As a matter of leadership, the responsibility for the lack of professionalism in the conduct of a few elements within the police, epitomized by the numerous reckless taking of innocent lives on several occasions, firmly rests with President Lungu as the appointing authority for both the Minister for Home Affairs – Mr. Stephen Kampyongo, as well as that of the Inspector General of Police – Mr. Kakoma Kanganja.”
“We further note, that the suspension of Mr. Nelson Phiri is a cover-up for the incompetence and failure, as well as abdication of duty and responsibility, not only on the part of President Lungu, but also on the part of Mr. Kampyongo and Mr. Kanganja, both of whom need to relinquish their posts to make way for a thorough, incisive and impartial inquiry into the increasing use of state sponsored gun violence and police brutality against innocent citizens,” Mr Bwalya said.
“The suspension of Mr. Nelson Phiri is also another indication, and thus a warning, to all police officers who will fall into the trap of taking and carrying out illegal orders of and by an unconscionable PF regime, that professional men and women in uniform will be sacrificed by a regime intent on breaking the law by issuing illegal orders aimed at beating down the spirit of democracy in our country.”
U will be rinsed like a mob when govt changes hands
Hehehehehe……..Nelson Phiri is just being used as a sacrificial lamb. Why didn’t they start with the Head of the Police himself?
“….that following the indiscriminate use of weapons of mass killing by the police….as well as their relentless appetite to use weapons of mass murder to intimidate and silence the voice of democracy…” WHICH COUNTRY IS THIS QUACK REFERRING TO??? Does hh stop and think about why he always loses elections when he allows such delinquents to advise him?? Anthony Bwalya couldn’t have even been close to Anderson Mazoka’s advisory team. Very shameful, indeed!!!
Tepapa! It will be time for reflection. Ba Nelo Pfiri. You thought you were cleaning and would win praises!!!
But why him, what about the big fish who instigated?
*****s and dull people in uniform why not just stick to one side?
Is it crime to say yes he has been suspended. We all know that he has been suspended.
This is what makes Edgar Lungu stupid in the eyes of Zambians.
He can’t reprimand such people and appoint competent people.
Anyway, failure breeds failures!
PF must go!
If its true, I wouldn’t mind. He is one of those who really abused the public order act, democracy is literally suspended in Lusaka at the whims of some police officers contrary to the country’s chosen democratic dispensation. No matter how much HH is feared and hated by the PF, give him chance. Even the 32 buses that Police say, they want to impound, this is not supported by any law, that the buses have done what. HH does not even have to tell his supporters to give him solidarity, he is a brand, people will come on their own, even today if the same happened, people will come. Don’t transfer your killing of people to HH, the offence is not transferable unfortunately. Just sort yourselves out
Okay, come here, we will pretend that we have suspended you until this thing dies down, other wise job well done.
We know these things.
Just suspended!? Why not arrest him for opening bullet boxes?
Kanganja should be suspended for not arresting Kampyongo.
Kampyongo should be fired and arrested, he wanted to prove Tayali that he has balls. So childish.
It’s only because of the murder of the public prosecuter that these crimes have gained traction……
The PF police plan was to execute UPND supporters and blame HH for causing their deaths in hope of deterring further support for him……
Lungu was fully aware of this murderous scheme. Because had it been only UPND that got killed , he would kept silent and enjoyed the HH blame game
Unfortunetly Nasama got hit with a stray bullet meant to kill UPND persons….
Karma always comes back to bite the evil…..
Bollocks
The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado that blocked HH’s cars at Cabinet Office was a senior cop’s SUV. All that nonsense of an armed cop pointing a semi-automatic firearm at an unarmed counsel for HH happened in full view of the very senior cop in the SUV. WHO WAS THE HIGH RANKING COP IN THE SUV?
Why is the Zambia police unform learning towards a military type of uniform? Are they trying to take over the Army? These uniforms are getting confusing.
Bafi colour ba death squad use less PF cadre police like led by a useless d0g of an IG who reports to a peace of sh1t 1doit of a president with an IQ of a rat…. we really have a problem
The order to use live ammunition came from who? Surely I.G Kanganja must have been involved in giving that Order. Police Commissioner Nelson Phiri is being sacrificed and is just a scapegoat. The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and the Minister of Home Affairs should be held to account for Prosecutor Nsama Nsama and Joseph Kaunda’s deaths. As Nsama Nsama said b4 his death:”Death written in blood cannot be erased by lies written in ink”. May Nsama Nsama and Joseph Kaunda’s Souls Rest in peace.
It went according to plan. Nothing succeeds like PF success.
Sacrificial lamb.
I hope his friends have learnt that politicians can use u like a mop
Nima neither confirm nor deny season
Suspending a police officer at this hour is as good as accepting that the police killed the two persons. The critical meaning is that the shooter was working under command. The best would have been isolating the shooter and not relating him to the commissioner. Peace would prevail that way. Someone has got it wrong. I maybe wrong?
I can’t confirm or deny. I don’t like such statements especially if it comes from someone who should know. This is not an external matter that police can’t know but an internal matter and the spokesperson must either confirm or deny, simple.
A senior cop came in a high profile SUV vehicle bought from taxpayers’ money manuvared in war like style to block HH’s lawyers, jumped out the car with squad of trigger happy malitia like men, right in front cabinet office, Defence Ministry HQ and Home affairs pointed their cocked AK47 automatic refiles ready to kill. What has never happened in this country during multipartism. Nelson Phiri acted the way he did because he lost his brains, became emotional and wanted to impress his masters with a view to being appointed may be Deputy IG in charge of operations or till IG at a later stage. Unfortunately his men ended up taking out a wrong target. As things stand under current circumstances, the nation has been disgraced by one man’s misjudgement, as a general there must be one to be…
“Weapons of mass murder” you are sick my chap!
But who gave that alert command to all police commissioner? Could he not have been the same person who ordered the shooting? Naimwe bene bambi ba Commissioner, if it is true that you colleague has been suspended for obeying useless orders, you too will be sacrificed. Make peace with the Zambian people, your humble dictator is on the way out. Who are you going to go to? Everyone will chase you.
Why should Nelson take the fall when we know that it is HH who encouraged the cadres to come in numbers even when requested not to do so. Let us not shift goal posts. Deep down we know that had arrogant hh told his cadres to stay away, non of this would have happened. Hh defied police orders and should pay for it
Some should answer for what happened
What is the point of speaking if you can neither deny or confirm.
Fellow Zambian’s let’s ACT, it could be me or you next, with elections coming in 2021. Let’s petition the ICC, UN, USA, EU, Baroness Scott … first suspect; Lusaka Province Min Lusambo, Inspector General of Police – Mr. Kakoma Kanganja, Stephen Kampyongo and their associates need to be referred to the ICC (International Criminal Court) so that they can be investigated, tried and charged for their crimes against humanity.
Can the following people council Elias Munshya, Mulambo Haimbe coordinate this patriotic exercise.
Watch “President Lungu’s deadline has passed; where is the report? and much more” on YouTube
Watch “UPND Lusaka Central Aspiring Candidate Mulambo Haimbe” on YouTube
Houston Police Chief @ArtAcevedo: “Let me just say this to the President of the United States, on behalf of the police chiefs of this country: please, if you don’t have something constructive to say, keep your mouth shut.” pic.twitter.com/z5AJpOO0RO
— Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) June 1, 2020
THIS WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS, AFTER THE PRESIDENT MADE A VERY APPALLING TWITTE .YOU LOSE NOTHING BY ADVISING POLITICIANS,ON HOW YOU JOB SHOULD BE DONE.
Nelson Phiri as Lusaka Police Commissioner is a disgrace to the Police Service in Zambia. Will wait when he finally leaves the Service completely. Will then sue him as an individual for traverse of justice. Its all documented with a plethora of witnesses. Never known or seen him but used his office to commit a crime. Zambians are waiting for you.
Are you the official police spokesperson? Then how can you neither confirm or deny. Its either he is suspended or he isn’t. Simple as that.
The PF police had 2 plans…..
Plan 1
summon HH and warn his followers away , if no support turns up , lock him up until the new year on a very bogus charge unrelated to that farm, to break him.
Plan 2
If his support turns up , execute some of them and hype the blame on him for allowing his followers to come to the police.
His followers came so plan 2 was put into action , only nsawa was also executed by a bullet meant for UPND…
If nsawa was not murdered , the life’s of UPND supporters executed would not matter…..
That person should resign on moral grounds- not fit for that job or that of maintaining law and order!!
BUT WHY SHOW US A PICTURE OF MR EUGENE SIBOTE THE DEPUTY IG INSTEAD OF NELSON PHIRI’S? WHY SUSPEND PHIRI WHEN POLICE RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS FROM PF? IT WAS THE SAME NELSON PHIRI WHO IN 2017 WAS ORDERED BY KENNEDY KAMBA (PF CADRE) TO CANCEL A UPND RALLY WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HELD AT TWASHUKA GROUNDS IN KANYAMA. LUSAKA TIMES REPORTED :
Lusaka Times of April 3, 2017:
“. On Saturday March 25, 2017 Patriotic Front-PF Lusaka Province Youth Chairperson Kennedy Kamba instructed the Zambia Police Service not to issue UPND with a permit for the rally. In heeding to Kamba’s directives, Commissioner Nelson Phiri denied the opposition a permit citing security reasons. SO WHY IS HE SUSPENDED TODAY?
I think senseless bloggers like @Zambian citizen and @KZ should be ostracized from civilized debate. Freedom of speech does not even come into this – where there is a continuous spout of disgraceful hatred, inhumane contributions and clear dead brains, expression ends. There will be a time when they will face the consequences their reckless stu.pidity. Many in history, who so pig headedly chose to block the struggle to institute sensibility and make systems work for the people again, were eventually disgracefully vanquished.
8 more months n KZ will be running butt naked from Archades mall to Mandahill….. can’t wait