No military personnel has been retired under UPND- Mwiimbu
ACTING Defence Minister Jack Mwiimbu has emphasised that the UPND government has maintained fairness and professionalism in handling the nation’s military personnel since taking office in 2021.
According to Mwiimbu, a total of 73 officers across the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force and Zambia National Service were dismissed between 2016 and 2021 under unclear circumstances.
Of these, 28 were later reinstated, while 45 remained separated due to lack of sufficient evidence to support their claims.
Mwiimbu was responding in Parliament yesterday to a question from Namwala member of parliament Herbert Mapani, who wanted details about the number of officers separated under questionable circumstances during the Patriotic Front era, between 2016 and 2021.
The minister drew a clear distinction with the previous administration, stating that under UPND, no officer is removed without proper investigation.
“Our approach is rooted on fairness, transparency and accountability. If any officer is found wanting, we charge them according to the conditions of service and they will respond“ said Mwiimbu.
“We’ll never retire anyone in national interest without giving reasons, we believe that, that particular provision was abused by the PF and we wouldn’t want to follow what the PF used to do
He further stressed that this policy ensures that the rights of military personnel are respected while maintaining high standards within the defence forces.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba November 15, 2025
Lieutenant Collins Barry was the
ZAF commander from 2021 to 2023.
Is he still Commander?
Just find out exactly the reasons why he was fired. No amount of lies and sugar coating issues will ever redeem PF’s thuggery governance. You are the same people that benefited out of thuggery and dirt politics, today you want to pretend like you never saw what PF was. Where is Nsama Nsama? Mapenzi Shibulo and Lawrence Banda… Joseph Kaunda, the list is endless. Learn to respect the masses. We are not fools FYI. The 2.8m is not something you just pick on the street when you wake up with your hangover. That was a collective resolve of the Zambian populace. Respect.
This is nonsense Jack Mwiimbu. You have beep very specific with PF numbers. Can you tell the nation how many military personnel have been retired out of national security interest under UPND? This is politicking and don’t think Zambians are fools. The officers who have been retired/fired under UPND have got families , friends and relatives. So please don’t come to the Nation and speak to the people of Zambia like you are talking to young children. You think this time around you will come again and lie to the Zambian people like you did in 2021 that within hours of taking power the Kwacha will gain value , loadshedding will be a thing of the past and that you will issue mining licences to all small scale miners, and little did we Zambians realise that on the Copperbelt even the historical black mountain will be taken away from poor Zambians and in North Western , Mufumbwe Zambians wanting to make a living due to poverty will be killed by their own UPND government and never to be accounted for. Enough of lies from UPND and the clock is ticking .