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President Edgar Lungu has directed the Zambia Police Service to establish and investigate opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema’s claims that he controls the security wings particularly the Zambia Intelligence Services.
President Lungu said as a duly elected and Head of State who was mandated to govern the affairs of the Zambian people, he will not allow anarchy to take place in the country.
Mr. Lungu said he was irked by a statement that some unscrupulous intelligence officers may be giving out information to the opposition leader.
He said officers giving out information risked being dismissed from the service for exposing the security of the state.
He was speaking at State House today when he swore-in Ireen Chirwa Mambilima as Chief Justice.
“Power to hold the nation is mine and there can’t be two Presidents in Zambia and l am the only one who runs the affairs of the nation including security wings. So the police should investigate Mr. Hichilema and should tell us if he is mere politicking,” he said.
President Lungu said the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mutembo Nchito could guide the police service who in turn could prosecute Mr. Hichilema.
He expressed disappointment on the lack of respect for government institutions by some people vying for the republican presidency.
He has since urged the Zambian people to judge the conduct of some leaders vying for the position of president.
Mr. Lungu said the security wings of the nation were supposed to be answerable to him and therefore the claim that some security officers were not loyal to the Head of State but to Mr. Hichilema was extremely dangerous.
Mr. Hichilema last month claimed that he was the one controlling the intelligence system and receives the daily national intelligence briefs before President Lungu does.
President Lungu challenged the newly appointed Chief Justice to ensure that cases were expedited to the aspirations of the Zambian people.
“The public expects speed delivery of justice and l am confident that you Mrs. Mambilima will get to the ground and start working now,” he said.
President Lungu commended Members of Parliament for ratifying the appointment of Mrs. Mambilima last week.
He assured the Chief Justice that government through the Ministry of Justice will address the challenges faced by the staff including operations.
In an interview, Mrs. Mambilima, who was flanked by her husband and daughter, pledged to revamp the judiciary and carry on with the judicial reforms which her predecessor, Lombe Chibesakunda left.
Mr. Mambilima said she will engage the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), the DPP and the Prison Service including other stakeholders on the judicial reforms.
She disclosed that she was equally concerned with the late disposal of cases in the judiciary but assured the judicial staff that they will be motivated to do their the judiciary.
And Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila said he will follow the presidential directive to the latter so that people with ‘careless mouths’ can be made accountable to the law enforcement agencies and the nation at large.
“I will implement President Lungu’s directive because as government, we will not condone lawlessness in the country,” he said.
Those who attended the swearing in ceremony included Vice President Inonge Wina, Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula, Lusaka Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta and some senior government officials.
