Dismissal of 27 police officers cruel, vindictive – M’membe
By Walusungu Lundu
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema and his minions are behaving as if the law doesn’t apply to their decisions and actions, says Dr Fred M’membe as he laments over the dismissal of 27 “highly experienced” semi-senior and senior police officers “without reason or a disciplinary hearing”.
The Socialist Party president said the dismissal in question “is cruel and vindictive”.
In a statement on his Facebook page yesterday, Dr M’membe said none of the officers has been charged with any disciplinary offence.
He said the officers were not political appointees but professional police officers who have risen through the ranks over many years.
He mentioned that most of them have been police officers for more than 25 years.
“These terminations of employment were carried out on October 6, 2022 but backdated to September 28, 2022. And in December 2022 they were all removed from the payroll. Their termination benefits are yet to be paid. The officers have since sued the state over their dismissals,” he noted. “There are breaches of the law and a clear case of procedural impropriety in the firing of these officers.
Mr Hakainde Hichilema and his minions are behaving as if the law doesn’t apply to their decisions and actions. This is cruel and vindictive. The exercise of power must be a constant practice of self-limitation and modesty.”
Dr M’membe demanded that the President explains to Zambians why the officers were dismissed.
“Who will pay for this recklessness and lawlessness? There has to be accountability. And government accountability means that public officials, both elected and unelected, have an obligation to explain their decisions and actions to the citizens. Let Mr Hichilema explain to Zambians why these officers have been fired,” said Dr M’membe. “Accountability lies at the heart of democratic government. It enables people to know how the government is doing and how to gain redress when things go wrong. It ensures the President, ministers, and civil servants are acting in the interests of the people they serve. Accountability is a part of good governance and can increase the trustworthiness and legitimacy of the state in the eyes of the public.”