Colonel Fred Kabaza who was retired by former Zambia National Service (ZNS) Commandant Lieutenant General Nathan Mulenga before the 2021 elections, has bounced back to active service not as Colonel Kabaza but promoted as Brigadier General Kabaza.
And Gen Mulenga’s successor, ZNS Commandant Lieutenant General Maliti Solochi is being accused of endulging in some nepotistic and regional traits after hope had been created that he would handle matters differently from his predecessor.
Gen Kabaza ,who served mainly as military police officer (Provost) is the only ZNS officer to have done the NDC course in China.
Sources in the defence forces have told Daily Revelation that Gen Mulenga, systematically sidelined and actually offloaded targeted officers who he thought would be an impediment to his control of the institution, some argue even after leaving office.
In the event, Gen Mulenga identified Brig Gen Benson Miti, said to be the one he wanted to take up the commandant’s position on his exiting the service.
Sources said among the officers who were frustrated included Gen Kabaza, retired Gen Jeff Kanyense and current ZNS Commandant Lt Gen Maliti Solochi, all of whom hail from North Western province.
Another officer said to have been targeted was Colonel Savior Kunda fondly referred to as “special Forces Commander” who is said to be a very brilliant officer and an intake mate of Generals Solochi and Miti.
Col Kunda’s last appointment was that of commanding officer at ZNS Hq unit based at Chamba valley, before being “unfairly” dismissed by Mulenga.
To complete the aspirations, Mulenga promoted five colonels, curiously all hailing from northern and eastern parts of Zambia.
“Those promoted were: Col Miti, Col Lupiya, Col Nkhuwa (Eastern) and Col Chisoko, Col Katongo (Northern),” sources said. “Following this manoeuvre, Maj Gen Alick Kamiji was conspicuously retired and replaced promptly by Gen Miti.”
However, after Lt Gen was shown the backdoor following the 2021 general elections, Brig Gen Fred Kabaza is back.
However, Gen Mulenga’s successor, Gen Solochi is being accused of exhibiting some nepotistic and tribal traits following the hope created in the system that he would run matters differently from his predecessor.
“We are wondering why the youthful, energetic and brilliant Col Kunda has been left out in preference to the elderly Gen Kabaza for instance. And not too long ago you were reporting that the General had promoted his own relative to procurement,” said sources
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