Zambia police must work on waning public confidence - President

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has expressed concern that the public confidence in the police service is low.

Speaking when he swore in Patrick Mutale as chairperson of the Police Public Complaints Commission and Brigadier General Dr Frida Kazembe (RTD) as chairperson of the Zambia Correctional Service Commission, President Lungu said it is up to the police, to regain confidence through their actions.

He urged Mr Mutale to prepare adequately to receive and resolve complaints from the public fairly but firmly as the country heads towards the 2021 general elections.

“There is urgent need for the police service to address these public concerns if the people of Zambia are to regain confidence in them. I, therefore, expect you to use the 34 years of experience you have gained as a lawyer in both the government, where you rose to the position of deputy chief state advocate and the private practice, to turn around the negative public perceptions of the police service,” he said.

And the Head of State has called on Dr Kazembe to immediately start addressing staff welfare issues such as timely appointments, promotions transfers and retirements in the correctional service.

He also urged her to work on the harmonization of conditions of service for correctional facility officers.

“I am aware that prior to your retirement in 2011, you served the public service for 41 years having joined the Zambia army in 1980 as an officer cadet and later rose to serve in various senior positions. Your loyalty to the command and commitment to duty earned you the appointment of the first female general in the Zambia army in 2009. This is an enviable and admirable achievement.

I am, therefore, confident that given your rich professional experience in the defense force, you will, without doubt, diligently apply yourself to ensure that the Zambia correctional service commission is efficiently and effectively operationalized,” President Lungu said.