By SIMON MUNTEMBA
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has advised the defence force to safeguard the welfare of Zambians at all times. President Hichilema has also advised the Zambia Police Service to earn public trust and respect by being professional. He said this yesterday at the State House during the swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed service chiefs and their deputies.
Mr Hichilema also appointed Mr Anthony Bwalya as his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations. He called on the service chiefs to work as a team in ensuring that the citizens were protected all the times. “Do your very best to serve the people of Zambia. Protect our people all the times. A soldier is never asleep. “Let’s work as a team in complementing and not competing with each other. Working as a team will bring better results for the people of Zambia,” President Hichilema said.
Mr Hichilema advised the new office bearers against disrespecting the immediate past defence chiefs because they worked hard before and after the election to ensure peace prevailed in the country. Meanwhile, President Hichilema said he expected a new way of working in the police service to win the confidence of the people. He cautioned the security wings against arresting suspects without investigating them because that was a recipe for anarchy.
“Citizens should not run away from the police when in problems. You should not arrest people when you have not investigated them. There are too many people in correctional facilities and police cells who are not supposed to be there,” he said. The President also cautioned civilians against unauthorised wearing of any military attire or risk being dealt with according to the law. He said civilians should not be allowed to wear military uniforms.
The President appointed and swore in Lieutenant General Sitali Alibuzwi as Zambia Army Commander, his deputy Major-General Godfrey Zyele, Zambia Air Force Commander Lt-Gen Collin Barry, and his deputy Maj-Gen Oscar Nyoni. Zambia National Service Commandant Lt-Gen Malichi Solochi, and his deputy Maj-Gen Reuben Mwewa were also sworn in. For the Inspector General of Police, President Hichilema recalled former Muchinga and Lusaka Provinces Commissioner of Police Lemmy Kajoba and appointed Mr. Milner Muyambango as Deputy Inspector General of Police for Operations while Doris Chibombe was sworn in as Deputy Inspector General of Police for Administration.
