PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has fired Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja and his two deputies Charity Katanga and Richard Mweene, replacing them with Remmy Kajoba, Milner Muyambango and Doris Chibombe respectively.

And President Hichilema says all police commissioners have been relieved of their duties but some of them might be reappointed under a new, orderly command structure in which the Inspector General will be in charge.

Meanwhile, President Hichilema has relived the services of the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force and the Zambia National Service service chiefs.

Addressing the nation, Sunday evening, President Hichilema made changes in the police command with immediate effect.

“By virtue of my being Commander-In-Chief of the Zambia Armed Forces, I am recalling Mr Remmy Kajoba and appointing him to be the new Inspector General of Police service. I have relieved with immediate effect services of Kakoma Kanganja as Inspector General of Police for the Zambia Police Service and equally, he will be relocated, reassigned elsewhere. I am also recalling Mr Milner Muyambango and appointing him as the new Deputy Inspector General of Police operations with immediate effect. Within the Zambia Police Service, I am appointing Doris Nayame Chibombe as the new Deputy Inspector General of Police Administration,” President Hichilema said.

“I have relieved Charity Katanga as Deputy Inspector General of Police Operations with immediate effect. I have relived the services of Richard Mweene as deputy inspector general of police administration with immediate effect.”

And President Hichilema e said all police commissioners had been relieved of their duties.

“I am relieving all commissioners of police from their duties with immediate effect. I must clarify now you have a situation where the IG, the two deputies are sworn in by the President and all the commissioners in the provinces and this was creating a problem in terms of the command structure to an extent where commissioners were acting outside the direction of the IG and it was creating problems. I am not too sure how we managed it but I am sure you saw sometimes the chaos that was there. So we want to be orderly, we want to have a command structure that is very clear and some of these commissioners may end up coming back under the new structure but with a clear command structure where the IG is in charge of the police,” he said.

The Head of State said no one should be arrested without investigations being carried out and that bail conditions would be relaxed.

“This new administration will operate with respect, very polite, but when necessary, very firm, all the time looking at the interest of the people of Zambia and nothing else. We believe that the media will not demonize the colleagues that are going because we are not demonizing them. Guidelines in the police, with the principle that no one should be arrested before an investigation is carried out. The police must give police bond where it is applicable and it is not a security risk, it is not a matter that will lead to the breakdown in the rule of law,” he said.

“Anything above that, we are transgressing the rights of citizens in policing, in security, in ensuring law and order, we must respect human rights, liberties and freedoms. The judicial system, when a matter is taken to court, must grant bail where there is no security risk, where there is no risk of crossing over to the breakdown of rule of law. And bail conditions should and will be relaxed. But that is not to promote criminality because where your rights ends, someone else’s rights starts. Cadres will not be allowed to attack police officers.”

Meanwhile, the Commander-In-Chief appointed Dennis Alibuzwi as the new Zambia Army commander, deputised by Godfrey Jere.

“Zambia Army, by virtue of being the Commander-In-Chief of the Zambia Armed Forces, I do hereby appoint Major General Dennis Alibuzwi as the new Army Commander. I consequently promote him to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Zambia Army with immediate effect. I have relieved with immediate effect the services of the Lieutenant General William Sikazwe as Army Commander with immediate effect to be redeployed soon. I think he did a wonderful job to lead us during this transition,” he said.

“Most of you have no understanding of what was going on but he and his team did a wonderful job. It is with great respect that we will be delighted for him to serve us as a country in another role and with honour. I am recalling the Brigadier General Godfrey Jere and appointing him as the new Deputy Army Commander and chief of staff and promoting him to the rank of Major General with immediate effect.”

President Hichilema also appointed Collins Barry as the new Zambia Air Force Commander.

“By virtue of being the Commander-In-Chief of the Zambia Air force, I hereby appoint Brigadier General Collins Barry to be the new Air Force Commander and promote him to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Zambia Air Force. I have relieved with immediate effect the services of Lieutenant General David Muma as Zambia Air Force commander and he too did a commendable job under very difficult circumstances and he too will be redeployed to serve our people in a different capacity very soon. I am also appointing Brigadier General Oscar Musitu Nyoni as the new deputy air commander and chief of staff and invariably promote him to the rank of Major General with immediate effect,” he said.

President Hichilema appointed Patrick Maliti as the new Zambia National Service Commandant.

“By virtue of my being the Commander-In-Chief of the Zambia Armed Forces, I hereby appoint Brigadier General Maliti Patrick Solochi to be the new ZNS Commandant and promote him to the rank of Lieutenant General in the ZNS with immediate effect. I have relieved with immediate effect the services of Lieutenant General Nathan Mulenga as ZNS commandant to be redeployed later. I am also appointing brigadier general Reuben Mwewa as the new ZNS deputy commandant and chief of staff and promoting him to the rank of major general with immediate effect. I have relieved with immediate effect the services of major general Benson Miti as ZNS deputy commandant and chief of staff and he too will be redeployed,” said President Hichilema.

Meanwhile, Kanganja asked those he might have injured for forgiveness in his farewell remarks.

“Good evening everyone. Just as I said yesterday it is the prerogative of The President. And it has been done. I wish to now officially bid farewell to you all. It has been easy. Thanks for your support during my tenure of office. I have served the country diligently for 36 years of unbroken service. In executing my duties I would have knowingly or unknowingly injured a lot of people please forgive me. But duty demands this and if I am given another chance I will do the same to protect people. I will always be available to help the in coming command in completing the projects which are in progress. Thank you all,” said Kanganja.