HOW KK SENT HIS POLICE IG ON A FAMILY HOLIDAY—AND RETIRED HIM MID-VACATION!
Imagine being sent by the President on a fully paid luxury family holiday to unwind, only to find out you have been retired while away!
Here is how President Kenneth Kaunda (KK) did it to his Police Inspector General (IG), Henry Mtonga, in 1989.
In January 2005, I had a heartwarming conversation with the late Henry Mtonga and his wife, Rose, following the celebration of their 40th wedding anniversary. Mtonga—who was then serving as UPND National Chairman and Kanyama Member of Parliament—told me he was elated to reach this milestone because the couple had endured many hardships along the way.
He especially recalled “a very depressing incident” when he was prematurely retired by Dr. Kaunda in 1989 at the age of 46, after four years at the helm of the police force, as it was then called.
“We were on holiday paid for by government. In fact, it was Dr. Kaunda’s proposal that I looked exhausted and I could, therefore, simply go to any place of my choice for holiday and government would pay,” Mtonga recalled.
“So we went to Mosi-oa-Tunya in Livingstone with my family. And while in Mosi-oa-Tunya, I got an open message through police radio that I had been retired. My wife broke down saying, ‘How come you were telling me that rising in the ranks made you more secure because you could discuss your own retirement or departure with the Commander-in-Chief?’”
Mtonga explained to her how the times had changed since the colonial era:
“I said that was the tradition until the Governor went. But since the coming of indigenous political government, things have changed. The Inspector General of Police and his seniors are treated together with the political leaders at a press conference. And sometimes you were lucky if there was a press conference; otherwise, it was the President’s spokesperson who announced that you were being retired, as was the case with me.”
Following his retirement, Mtonga travelled to France for a month to reflect on his future endeavours. Upon his return, Dr. Kaunda offered Mtonga a diplomatic posting, which he politely declined. A few months later, Dr. Kaunda made another offer—and this time, Mtonga’s grandfather used a Tumbuka proverb to dissuade him from accepting it.
“As it is, it seems to me we made a good choice,” Mtonga said. “In May 1990, Dr. Kaunda asked me to go back to the police force, but I said, ‘No, thank you.’ At that time, my grandfather, who was around, told me a Tumbuka adage that the giraffe was killed for going back to the river.”
Over to Human Resource Specialists or Political Pundits:
What kind of management style or political leadership did KK employ in such cases?
Remember how he similarly fired Aaron Milner as Home Affairs Minister in 1980 after inviting him for a game of golf, which they played the whole day at State House? He even asked to reverse his decision by requesting the dismissal letter back from Milner after the latter protested!
Cheers!
Amos Malupenga
Author
Picture Caption: Police IG Zunga Siakalima (right) presenting a gift to Henry Mtonga during his Farewell Parade in September 1990 at Lilayi Police College in Lusaka. Looking on is Mtonga’s wife, Rose.
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