President Edgar Lungu has dropped Zambia Correctional Services Commissioner General Percy Chato and replaced him with his deputy Commissioner General in charge of administration Dr Chisela Chileshe, who was transferred to the prison services from Zambia Police Headquarters.

Sources say Dr Chileshe is the first known officer in recent history to ever be moved on departmental transfer to the Prison service in 2009, from Zambia Police where he served as deputy director medical.

“When he was transferred to the Prisons, there was some bickering because he was not accepted as one of them. So it was very expected that after Chato, the other Deputy Commissioner General in charge of operations was going to take charge. But Surprisingly, it’s Dr Chileshe who has been promoted. So there might be some operational tension there,” said the sources.

It is not yet clear whether President Lungu retired Commissioner Chato in national interest or he simply did not renew his contract.

Efforts to get a comment from Chato proved futile at the time of writing as his phones went unanswered.