Lemmy Kajoba, the Inspector General of Police, has been removed by President Hakainde Hichilema, and Graphel Musamba has taken his position.
Alita Mbahwe, a former Commissioner at the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), has been appointed as the new deputy inspector general of police for administration. President Hichilema has further removed Deputy Inspector General of Police Doris Nayame Chibombe of her duties.
Since then, the Head of State has urged the new hires to assist in restoring professionalism to the police force.
President Hichilema gave a speech at the swearing-in event for permanent secretaries and other government officials and urged the new hires to avoid corruption.
He claimed that restoring professionalism in the police force is crucial, thus corruption needs to be reduced and no one should become engaged in “Ka Sumfing” disputes.
“We will not allow this country to go back to what it was. We should not have short memories. We are aware there was loss of professionalism in the police profession. Let us restore professionalism and also have respect for one another,” he said.
Furthermore, the Head of State ordered police to remove illicit firearms from circulation since no one should be walking around firing live ammo.
Further denouncing the violence that occurred during Serenje’s by-election campaigns, President Hichilema declared that the nation will not revert to hooliganism.
The Head of State also emphasized the necessity of restoring stability in all ministerial offices and urged the recently appointed Permanent Secretaries to assist in doing so.
“Bring stability in your ministeries. Make a difference. We do not want to swear in people every now and then. Let’s help stamp down on corruption as well as violence,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary for Administration in the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise, Yvone Mpundu, has also been moved by President Hichilema to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The contracts of Wisdom Bwalya, Perpetual Mphande Chuulu, Danny Mfune, and John Msimuko, together with the contracts of three other Permanent Secretaries, have also been cancelled by him.
“The President has also transferred Chembo Mbula, Permanent Secretary (Administration) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to Cabinet Office as Permanent Secretary Special duties,whereas Chilufya Darko, Permanent Secretary at Cabinet Office and Professor Lackson Kasonka, Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Health, will be re-deployed,” State House Analyst Brian Mwiinga said.
According to Mr. Mwiinga, the newly appointed Permanent Secretaries are Lillian Saili Bwalya, Permanent Secretary (Administration), Ministry Of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Hope Katebe Kalabi Situmbeko, Permanent Secretary (Administration), Ministry Of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Naomi Tetamashimba, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), Cabinet Office.
Dr. Christopher Simoonga, Permanent Secretary (Administration) Ministry of Health, Dr. Hapenga Kabeta, Permanent Secretary Crne Navion Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, Prof. Albert Malama, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, and Dr. Douty Chibamba, Permanent Secretary Ministry Of Green Economy and Environment are some of the others.
