Uproar in Zambia Army over promotions
The promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Innocent Mutinta by President Hakainde Hichilema has sparked an uproar in the Zambia Army and other defence wings with many describing the elevation as not on merit but tribally inclined.
Some Zambia Army personnel took to social media condemning the sole promotion of col Mutinta, who was in 2016 retired in national interest and was reinstated together with other officers only a year ago.
President Hichilema, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces early this week promoted Lieutenant Colonel Innocent Mutinta to the rank of Colonel but his peers have complained and are asking the criteria that was used to arrive at his name when he had been away from the military for more than six years https://epaper.dailynationzambia.com/public/
Picture courtesy of The Zambia Army
If it’s true this person was retired in in national interest in 2016 at the rank of a Lt Colonel and is now elevated to a full Colonel, there is nothing sinister there, otherwise this person is not a new recruit and he was not fired, so we don’t expect him to start at the same rank over a period of about 8 years just because he is a Tonga. In my opinion the complaint can only be there if the officer was retired with other fellow rank mates and upon being reinstated, him is promoted while them remain at the same rank.
How does the Army promote officers? From Major two basis are used. An exam and recommendation based on skill and ability. This is a system that is upheld by the military the globally. Exam to test understanding of strategy, tactic, history and leadership as the number of people being led maybe critical to win a battle and war. So this complaint is it Mwamba at it again or just some disgruntled haters among the ranks? We expect officers to be beyond pettiness and inuendo.
I shudder to think of how many other people’s careers and lives were ruined through being retired in “national interest” by the PF regime.
Mr. Lungu’s PF is pure evil.