Friday, March 29, 2024

Public confidence in Police is very low now, President Lungu tells newly appointed Chairperson of the Police Complaints Commission

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President Edgar Lungu has sworn in Patrick Mutale as Chairperson of the Police Public Complaints Commission.

President Lungu has also sworn in Brigadier General Dr. Frida Sakala Kazembe (Rtd) as Chairperson of the Zambia Correctional Service Commission.

“With regards to you Mr. Mutale, you are taking over the mantle of presiding over the affairs of the Police Public Complaints Commission at a very critical time when the political mood in the country is all but focused on the 2021 general elections. The Authority should, therefore, prepare adequately to receive and resolve complaints from the public fairly but firmly,” President Lungu said.

The Head of State said the performance of the Zambia Police Service before, during and after the August 12 general elections was already a subject of public debate.

“The public confidence in the police service is low, and as I said when I swore-in senior police officers recently, it is up to the police, themselves, to regain that confidence by their actions. To this end, there is urgent need for the police service to address these public concerns if the people of Zambia are to regain confidence in them. I, therefore, expect you to use the 34 years of experience you have gained as a lawyer in both the government, where you rose to the position of Deputy Chief State Advocate and the private practice, to turn around the negative public perceptions of the police service,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Lungu has congratulated Brigadier General Dr. Frida Sakala Kazembe (Rtd) on her appointment as Chairperson of the Zambia Correctional Service Commission.

“As for you Brigadier General Dr. Fridah Sakala Kazembe, your appointment is a confirmation of my government’s commitment to ensuring that the Zambia Correctional Service Commission is established and performs the mandate of overseeing the operations of the Correctional Service,” he said.

President Lungu said enhancing the morale of men and women in uniform under the Zambia Correctional Service was cardinal for them to perform the portfolio mandate to manage, regulate and ensure the security of correctional centres.

“In this regard, I am confident that you as a retired senior military officer, you are well qualified to take charge of the Zambia Correctional Service Commission. I am aware that prior to your retirement in 2011, you served the public service for 41 years having joined the Zambia Army in 1980 as an Officer Cadet and later rose to serve in various senior positions. Your loyalty to the command and commitment to duty earned you the appointment of the First Female General in the Zambia Army in 2009. This is an enviable and admirable achievement. I am, therefore, confident that given your rich professional experience in the defence force, you will, without doubt, diligently apply yourself to ensure that the Zambia Correctional Service Commission is efficiently and effectively operationalised,” he said.

The Head of State said he expected the Commission to immediately start addressing staff welfare issues such as timely appointments, promotions transfers and retirements.

“This should be done in line with the approved structures of the Zambia Correctional Service following its transformation from the Zambia Prison Service as provided for under Article 193 of the Constitution. Another issue of critical importance is the harmonisation of conditions of service for the men and women in the rank and file of the Zambia Correctional Services,” President Lungu said.

27 COMMENTS

  1. Yes Lungu public confidence in ZP is very very low bcoz you’ve politicized the force and tolerated bribe taking.Extrajuducial killings of civilians is also the norm.

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  2. What do expect the police yo to do when PF cadres are more procter than they are. Anyway, wait for May 12. Abobene ba cadre will be your body guards

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  3. ECL is a hypocrite. He is pretending not to know why Confidence in the Police Force is so low. He has politicised ZPS, tribalised it and armed it to the teeth to commit crimes against humanity. Recently ZPS killed Nsama Nsama and Joseph Kaunda in cold blood even though they were innocent unarmed Civilians. ZPS has been infiltrated by PF Cadres who are being commanded to kill Opposition Activists and Citizens in General. The ZPS Command which includes ECL should be held accaccountable for low morale and low confidence in ZPS.

  4. Eagle 1, most men in uniform are upset that you have given more latitude to cadres to disrespect them. What happened when Bonnie Kapeso threatened to break their legs is just a tip. My advice to the cadres is that be mindful that you’re own your own. Edgar is just one person so he can’t be everywhere to defend you. Soon you’ll meet your waterloo. Even if you lift weights you can’t be stronger than commissioned officers. They’ll soon bring this nonsense to a stop. They have taken oath to defend the Constitution not confused politicians. Yes, under Kanganja the Zambia Police Service is at its lowest and that’s quite sad. However, it’ll come to pass. I encourage our men in uniform to continue with the same discipline and resilience they have been known for.

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  5. That’s what this moron says every time he makes a police appointment……yet does nothing to stop the police being used like PF caders.

    He only says this to dupe Zambians….

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  6. Congratulations to the two, it appears their appointments are well deserved.
    However, does our President not have advisors? This very selective appointments from only two regions is very concerning.

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  7. THE PRESIDENT HAS PUPPETS LIKE KZ THEY SING THE TUNE THEY WANT HIM TO HEAR
    AND NOT THE REALITY ON THE GROUND
    BUT LET THAT CONTINUE
    AS WE ZAMBIANS WILL MAKE ZAMBIA GREAT AGAIN

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  8. @Maganizo
    Africa’s triplets Tribalism, nepotism and corruption
    THIS GETS POST OF THE DAY
    SO THE BRAGGING RIGHTS GO TO YOU THIS DAY
    Hope you enjoy it

  9. Mr President, what is being done to find the Police officers who killed Mapenzi Chibulo, Vespers Shimuzhila and Frank Mugala. Justice must be seen to be done

  10. Because of you dander head, the ka worst dictator on earth, very dull. any way it is not Zambia Police , it`s more like p0rn front party carder police the last time I checked

  11. THE PRESIDENT SHOULD MENTION ALL DEPARTMENTS
    WHICH MOTORIST IN ZAMBIA AND VISITORS HAVEN’T BEEN ASKED FOR “LUNCH MONEY” WHETHER BY POLICE PATROLS
    OR RTSA ??
    WHICH PERSON TRANSFERING TITLE DEEDS HASNT BEEN ASKED “DO YOU WANT NORMAL SERVICE OR FAST TRACK”
    AND WHICH PERSON WANTING A RESIDENT OR EXTENSION PERMIT HASNT BEEN ASKED FOR SOME “CONSIDERATION”
    ?????????????? WHO CAN DENY THESE ILLS ?????????????????

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  12. What is the meaning of buck stops here?
    —used to say that one accepts a responsibility and will not try to give it to someone else I’m willing to accept the blame for what happened.

    PF time out.

    This is troublesome, coming out of the commander in chief.

    “The public confidence in the police service is low, and as I said when I swore-in senior police officers recently, it is up to the police, themselves, to regain that confidence by their actions.” -LT

    The meaning of commander: Commanders have the authority to investigate matters within their command to provide for and ensure good order and discipline.

    PF more five years.

  13. What is the meaning of buck stops here?
    —used to say that one accepts a responsibility and will not try to give it to someone else I’m willing to accept the blame for what happened.

    PF time out.

    This is troublesome, coming out of the commander in chief.

    “The public confidence in the police service is low, and as I said when I swore-in senior police officers recently, it is up to the police, themselves, to regain that confidence by their actions.” -LT

    The meaning of commander: Commanders have the authority to investigate matters within their command to provide for and ensure good order and discipline.

    PF no more five years.

  14. Just like we have lost confidence in you and your PF government. Infact we have lost confidence in all government institution just from the time you took over. #Isabi litampila kumutwe ukubola.

  15. We have a schizophrenic (split mind) Republican President. Lungu has two diametrically opposed personalities. We are lucky when he wakes up with the one that lives in the real world, which is very rare. Moat of the times he is in a world of fantasy fuelled by ethanol. That is why he once thought that the client’s money was his payment.

  16. Whether you like president Lungu or not, we all have a duty to respect the presidency. We may not agree with his style of leadership but the fact remains – he is our president and for that, lets accord him the necessary respect.

  17. Cannot blame the Zambians, they are robbed daily in broad-daylight at every roadblock mounted all over the country .
    Indians that commit crime are seen corrupting the police at police stations in full view of Zambians and get away with crime whilst poor Zambians get locked up for stealing a chicken to feed their hungry stomach..

  18. When the whole police service has been politicized with only favoring PF then obviously no one in their right mind can hold the police in high esteem. They are the laughing stock of the defense forces. They are now referred to as mere marondas of the PF.

  19. SIMPLE QUESTION WHY LUNGU FIRED KAMPYONGO AND KANGANAJA AS THEY ARE NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE, LET’S HOPE THEY ARE COORDINATING THE RIG ELECTONS 2021 PROJECT.

  20. SIMPLE QUESTION WHY HAS LUNGU NOT FIRED KAMPYONGO AND KANGANAJA AS THEY ARE NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE, LET’S HOPE THEY ARE NOT COORDINATING THE “RIG ELECTONS 2021 PROJECT”?

  21. The solution is to fire the minister of home affairs and the IG and rebrand the police service

  22. Appointee Mutale will achieve nothing if he has nowhere to start from! The citizenry has low confidence in the police as well as doubtful trust of integrity! Without having an idea why public confidence has gotten to where it is at, Mutale must devise a way of collecting the people’s general views on why they feel the police service in its current form is a waste of effort for public safety and rule of law. I would suggest that Mutale provides drop boxes at collection centers where the public would be requested to drop reactions incognito, in a sentence or two to a question as: “What is your reason for distrusting the police?” or “Tell us what you think of the police service and why?” Reactions will obviously be a mixed bag some even going to extremes but these will be the true…

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