Maravi

Sata fires 13 Brig Generals, 16 Colonels

Sata fires 13 Brig Generals, 16 Colonels
By Bright Mukwasa
Wed 26 Oct. 2011, 15:40 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has ordered the dismissal of 13 Brigadier Generals and 16 Colonels who were illegally contracted by his predecessor Rupiah Banda's government. And Inspector General of Police Martin Malama has described the appointment of six female officers as commissioners of police to head various provinces as ground-breaking.

Speaking when he swore-in permanent secretary in the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, Coillard Chibbonta and commissioners of police at State House yesterday, President Sata said there had been a lot of extravagance in the country which ought to come to an end.

"What are you afraid of? Why allow 13 Brigadier Generals and 16 Colonels occupying offices illegally? You are giving them money which should have gone to the police, which should have gone to strengthen the establishment of the police. If you look here at these policemen probably you don't understand some of them don't even have badges of ranks," President Sata said.

"I am directing Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Joshua Kanganja you and the Minster of Defence that all these people should leave offices now but pay them up to the end of December because they are in offices illegally. I don't have the power to give a contract, I only have the power to give you a contract within the law."

President Sata said the Statutory Instrument used to justify the officers' contracts was illegal.

"The Defence Act does not permit me, the Pension Act does not permit me. How do you as Secretary to the Cabinet go and draft a Statutory Instrument and give it to somebody to sign it. Your so-called permanent secretary in the Ministry of Defence and you say here the president has signed a Statutory Instrument," he said.

"You are cheating the people in uniform. If you want to make them retire at 60 or 65, bring the law and amend the law. Once you amend the law the law will protect them not you. They are not supposed to survive depending on who is in office. Let the law protect them."

President Sata said he was disappointed that the police service was grappling with numerous challenges 47 years after independence.

"As the police is growing, I am very disappointed, 47 years of independence we have not filled the establishment. We still have a shortage of 12,000 men and women. And I wanted to prove to you that this question of without an establishment who is going to run a division that's why I decided to promote all of you to commissioner level because the authority of the police is on your shoulders, it's not how much you talk."

He urged the newly-appointed Commissioners of Police to perform their duties professionally at all times.

President Sata also directed the new permanent secretary in the Ministry of Chief and Traditional Affairs to establish the living conditions of chiefs around the country.

And Dr Malama said the appointment of women officers to senior positions was a boost to the service.

He said the women had been appointed on merit.

President Sata has elevated six women out of eleven to head provincial commands.

And those sworn-in yesterday were Philemon Mutale as Commissioner of Police State House, Dr Solomon Jere for Central Province, Mary Tembo for Copperbelt, Joyce Kasosa for Luapula, Grace Chipaila for Eastern Province and Charity Masambo-Katanga for Lusaka.

Others are Mary Chikwanda for Northern Province, Eugene Sibote for North Western, Antoneil Mutentwa for Western, Brenda Muntemba for Southern Province while Standwell Lungu goes to the country's latest province, Muchinga.

Labels: ARMED FORCES, COILLARD CHIBBONTA, JOSHUA KANGANJA, MICHAEL SATA

posted by MrK @ 4:11 PM