EDGAR LUNGU IS RIGHT ABOUT MARKING PARTISAN CIVIL SERVANTS AND POLICE OFFICERS
EDGAR LUNGU IS RIGHT ABOUT MARKING PARTISAN CIVIL SERVANTS AND POLICE OFFICERS
Good morning.
The Zambian Whistleblower has noticed how the government of Dictator Hakainde Hichilema gets unsettled each time Former President Edgar Lungu makes any public comment. The reason for this is his growing popularity among ordinary Zambians.
Notice the panicked chorus of reactions by United Party for National Development (UPND) leaders, and allied print and online media, to the remarks ECL made in Samfya at the Citizens First (CF) public rally.
Moribund Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jack Mwiimbu was forced to hold a press briefing just to denounce the Former President for warning civil servants and police officers to perform their duties professionally, or risk being answerable in their individual capacities after change of government in 2026.
There is nothing wrong, criminal or irresponsible about Former President Lungu’s warning.
In fact, all Zambians should join him in calling upon civil servants, police officers and other public servants to ensure their conduct is above board when dealing with citizens and their rights and freedoms.
What ECL said about taking note of miscreant civil servants and police officers facing future consequences should actually be promoted as the new culture, so that officers are put on notice to be on their best conduct.
This call is actually not a new one. Dictator Hichilema, while in opposition, asked people to give him a list of people to be sorted out after the August 2021 elections, for reasons best known to himself. Top on the list was Stephen Kampyongo! This was at a public forum.
We are also aware of the dismissal of several police officers who went to arrest Hakainde Hichilema at his community house during his treason charge ordeal. Even Magistrate David Simusamba lost his job because of similar circumstances.
Before launching his cowardly attack against ECL, Jack Mwiimbu should first have looked at similarities between the statements of Hichilema and Lungu on this subject. But that would be expecting too much of poor old Jack.
There are many civil servants, police officers and those in other wings, who are openly violating the rights of citizens, especially of people in the political opposition, civil society activists and online media outlets which are critical of government because of its alleged corruption, tribalism, regionalism and poor governance.
The Zambian Whistleblower has become a prime target of such harassment conducted by police officers. Chief Consultant Thomas Allan Zgambo has already been arrested on two occasions, and kept in custody for days even when cases alleged against him are bondable.
The Zambian Whistleblower is therefore also compiling a list of police officers who have been abusive and are complicit in violation of citizens’ rights, including those of the Chief Consultant.
These current arrests and violations are being instigated by UPND leaders and their cadres. As Former President Lungu has said, these incidents will not be forgotten. Civil servants and police officers responsible will be made to account for them in their individual capacities, in accordance with the law of course.
While Dictator Hichilema pontificates that he does not want people to be arrested when investigations are not complete, this has actually become the norm. Arrests and detentions for days have become an unofficial method of punishing journalists and others criticising Dictator Hichilema or his government. Many opposition leaders who have suffered such detentions have later had cases against them discontinued for flimsy reasons, after already having suffered the punishment of prolonged detentions. These cases should be, and will be, followed up, just as Former President Lungu has said.
The same with some magistrates and judges whose handling of political cases is suspected to be with partisan political considerations. Their decisions will be compiled and reviewed. Where judicial presiding officers fail to defend their decisions and conduct, they should be dismissed and made to lose their pension. This is the best route to a higher level of accountability.
The fact that it is ECL who has raised this matter is immaterial. It has now become necessary to ensure that foolish civil servants, police officers, magistrates and judges should not be allowed to escape after seriously misconducting themselves in their public offices.
So, Edgar Chagwa Lungu is right. Jack Mwiimbu and all the UPND-aligned media and Labour unions are wrong. And we are marking them too.
John 8:32 “And you will know the truth, and the truth wil set you free.”
©️ Zambian Whistleblower (ZWB)