Zambia’s newly-elected President, Hakainde Hichilema yesterday appointed new military chiefs and replaced all police commissioners after promising to end the previous regime’s heavy-handedness.
Right groups accused Hichilema’s predecessor Edgar Lungu of leading a “brutal crackdown” on dissent, with police violence claiming at least five lives since he was officially elected in 2016.
Hichilema, who took office last week, has been arrested over a dozen times during his political career and made restoring freedoms a linchpin of his electoral promises.
In a televised address to the nation, Hichilema on Sunday announced the appointment of new army and airforce chiefs, as well as a new head of the southern African country’s defence wing.
“I am relieving all commissioners of police with immediate effect,” he added, without providing reasons for the replacements.
He also urged police to conduct thorough checks before detaining suspects, stressing that “no one should be arrested before investigations are concluded”.
President Hichilema appointed Zambia Army Deputy Commander Dennis Alibuzwi as Army Commander and consequently promoted him to the rank of Lieutenant General with immediate effect.
Lieutenant General Alibuzwi replaces Lieutenant General William Sikazwe who served as Zambia Army Commander for two years and eight months since his appointment in 2018.
Hichilema recalled Brigadier General Geoffrey Zyeele and appointed him as the new Deputy Army Commander and Chief of Staff, and consequently elevated him to the rank of Major General.
At the Zambia Air Force (ZAF), Hichilema retired Air Commander, Lieutenant General David Muma and replaced him with Brigadier General Collins Barry, who he subsequently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General.
Further, Brigadier General Oscar Nyoni has been appointed as ZAF Deputy Commander and has been promoted to the rank of Major General.
President Hichilema also made changes at the Zambia National Service (ZNS) by relieving ZNS Commandant Lieutenant General Nathan Mulenga of his duties and replacing him with Brigadier General Patrick Solochi, who has since been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General.
Lieutenant General Patrick Solochi will be deputised by now Major General Reuben Mwewa who was before this appointment and subsequent promotion, at the rank of Brigadier General.
Hichilema beat his long-term rival Lungu in 12 August polls by a landslide of almost one million votes — a victory hailed as a democratic milestone for opposition movements in Africa.
During his inauguration speech on Tuesday, he promised to crack down on political “thuggery” and repression, reassuring independent media they would no longer face tear gas or shutdowns.