By Merlyn Mwanza
Major Ben Phiri says Noel Nkhoma should thank his stars that President Hichilema allowed his appointment to the Development Bank of Zambia board of directors rather than cast aspersions on the Head of State’s appointments to various positions in government positions.
Reacting to Maj Phiri’s earlier description as flawed former Health minister Angela Cifire’s remarks that key public appointments were skewed towards Southern, Western, North-Western and parts of Central provinces despite the best efforts of all Zambians who united regardless of tribe to remove PF from power such that President Hichilema was even winning and getting significant votes in areas outside those regions, Nkhoma stated that it was naive for Maj Phiri to dismiss Cifire’s statement as there was a lot of discussion on the ethnically inclined appointments in the UPND administration.
But Maj Phiri has countered Nkhoma’s position, stating that he must be thankful for his appointment as DBZ chairperson.
“The entitlement mentality that inhabits remnants of the MMD has lately assumed a predictable pattern. Both Angela Chifire and Noel Nkhoma are well known avowed ex MMD members who stealthily crawled into the UPND when the prospects of President Hichilema’s electoral victory appeared loftly bright,” Maj Phiri argued. “Whenever a new government takes office, the incoming President is routinely expected to assemble a team of unquestionable faithfuls who have a proven track record of believing in the ideological road map of the appointing authority. Noel joined the UPND at the eleventh hour in order to contest the 2021 elections in Luangeni.”
Maj Phiri noted that Nkhoma was also one of the board members at Zesco during “the PF regime which indiscriminately appropriated most top jobs to MMD turncoats who included but not limited to Vincent Mwale, Dora Siliya, Lusambo etc.”
“In my opinion, President Hichilema should be commended for appointing both eastern province MPs from Malambo and Chipata central to ministerial positions as Provincial minister and Agriculture minister respectively,” stated Maj Phiri who operates in the office of the UPND secretary general. “Noel should realise that the days of mudslinging others to Lungu in order to attract the presidential nod, are long gone with the defeat of Edgar Lungu and his PF on August 12th 2021. President Hakainde Hichilema remains focussed, resolute and unshaken in his quest to better the lives of ALL ZAMBIANS.”
Speaking with Daily Revelation over what many view as tribal appointments into government key public positions that are heavily skewed towards Southern, Western and North western province despite President Hichilema having received significant votes even in areas where he lost, with Eastern Province producing a split vote (51 percent for president Edgar Lungu who hails from that region and 49 percent for President Hakainde Hichilema), Cifire said appointments in government must be given in recognition that the 2021 general elections was a 10-province programme and not having a situation where the presidency is now being captured in terms “uyu wesu or uyu nguwezu.”
Cifire joins the other Zambians that have been talking about tribal and nepotistic appointments by President Hichilema, something he promised to cure.
Socialist Party Leader Dr Fred M’membe challenged President Hichilema to explain why Zambia Police key command positions at all levels and in all departments or units are predominantly occupied by people from one ethnicity and related ethnicities almost to the exclusion of all others.
“Is it by pure merit or coincidence that: 1. Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba is KAONDE? 2. Deputy Inspector General of Police (State House) Fanwell Siandenge is TONGA? 3. Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) Milner Libusa Muyambango is LOZI? 4. Deputy Inspector General of Police (Administration) Doris Nayame is MAMBWE?” Dr M’membe asked and further stating:
5. Director Administration Byemba Musole is LOZI?
6. Director CID Yuyi Mwala is LOZI?
7. Deputy Director CID Maxwell Timba is TONGA?
8. SPIO (Intelligence) Mweemba Robertson is TONGA?
9. PRO Rae Hamoonga is TONGA?
10. Commissioner Administration Auxensio Daka (who is said to have been recommended by the late president Lupiya Banda) is NSENGA?
11. Quarter Master Mubita Munenbo is LOZI?
STATE HOUSE POLICE:
1. DIG Fanwell Siandenge is TONGA?
2. Aide de Camp Shapa Wakung’uma is LOZI?
3. Commissioner of Police Justin Moolo is TONGA?
4. In Charge Administration Malambo is TONGA?
5. In Charge Intelligence Chiwala is TONGA?
6. In Charge Operations Lumanyendo (a relative of Siandenge and coming from the same village) is TONGA?
7. Senior Driver Mubiana is LOZI (but they often opt to use his junior Mbaimba who is TONGA)?
8. In Charge Bodyguard Siandiza is TONGA?
9. Callabashi-Mrs Serah Mwenya (BEMBA)?
10. Armoury in Charge Mumeka is KAONDE?
11. Food Analyst Mazaza is LUNDA?
12. In Charge Garage Kakeja is KAONDE?
13. Quarter Master Mukolo is LOZI?
COMMISSIONERS OF POLICE:
1. Lusaka Province – Kreto Nkaanza is TONGA?
2. Copperbelt Province – Peacewell Mweemba is TONGA?
3. Central Province – Mukuka Davies Chileshe (who is a close associate of Deputy Inspector General Muyambango) is BEMBA?
4. Eastern Province – Limpo Liwali is LOZI?
5. Northern Province – Gloria Mulele (a very close associate of DIG operations Milner Muyambango) is TONGA?
6. Muchinga Province – Mubaanga Kaunda is LUNDA?
7. Luapula – Fwambo Siame is MAMBWE?
8. Southern – Paul Achiume is TUMBUKA?
9. North Western Province – Dennis Moola is TONGA?
10. Western Province – Roy Kashimba is LUNDA?
UNIT COMMANDERS:
1. Paramilitary – Yobe Luhana (who is step brother to Deputy Inspector General Siandenge) is TUMBUKA?
2. Protective Unit – Fred Hamamba is TONGA?
3. Airport – Robison Moonga is TONGA?
4. Lilayi College – Desmond Mwaanza is TONGA?
5. TAZARA – Simon Mbaulu is LUVALE?
6. Mobile Unit – Pethias Siandenge (who is younger brother of Deputy Inspector Siandenge) is TONGA?
PROVINCIAL POLICE
INTELLINGENCE:
1. Lusaka Province – Malambo Muchinda is TONGA?
2. Northern Province – James Chiti is BEMBA?
3. Luapula Province – Chimuli Kapenda is LUVALE?
4. Muchinga Province – Munankopa Nesbert is TONGA?
5. North Western Province – Abel Chifumpa is LENJE?
6. Southern Province – Clement Matomola is LOZI?
7. Central Province – Limwanya Kapupa is LOZI?
8. Copperbelt Province – Chris Chipepo Chiyabi is TONGA?
9. Eastern Province – Edify Milambo is TONGA?
10. Western Province – Joe Malumo is LOZI?
UNIT INTEL OFFICERS:
1. College – Mponyela Ireen is LOZI?
2. Mobile Unit – Kanondo Royd is LUNDA?
3. TAZARA – Fwankila is TONGA?
4. Airport – Mbwainga Harry is TONGA?
5. Protective Unit – Kaumbi Lilian is LOZI?
6. Paramilitary – Neverson Mpundu is BEMBA?
These are the key positions in Zambia Police.
Like Deputy Inspector General Siandenge, some of these officers were part of the UPND security team. Two of Deputy Inspector General Siandenge’s brothers are in charge of the two striking police units – paramilitary and mobile units.
Where does this staffing of the police leave the opposition when it comes to policing politics and elections? Would Mr Hichilema keep quiet and accept this if he was in opposition?
These are honest questions seeking honest answers.
Dr M’membe also recently said that critics are asking if what they are seeing is equal to what they were promised, mentioning the various positions including that of President (Tonga), Vice-President (Bemba married to a Lozi), Speaker (Lozi), Chief Justice (Lenje), Acting President of the Constitutional Court (Lozi), Attorney General (Lenje), Solicitor General (Tonga), Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission (Lozi), Chairman of the Judicial Complaints Commission (Tonga), Commissioner of Lands (Tonga), Chief Legal Advisor to the President (Lozi). Dr M’membe further stated that appointments to key ministries that can’t easily be done away with flowed in the same direction including Home Affairs (Tonga), Local Government (Tonga), Education (Tonga), Tourism (Tonga), Justice (Tonga), Foreign Affairs (Lenje), Health (Soli), Defence (Luvale), Infrastructure (Lozi), Finance (Lozi), Lands (Lunda), Governor of the Bank of Zambia (Tonga).
In the Defence Forces, Zambia Army Commander (Lozi), Zambia Air Force (Kaonde), ZNS Commandant (Luvale), Inspector General of Police (Kaonde), Director General of Intelligence (Lozi), Commissioner of Correctional Services (Tonga), Chief Immigration Officer (Lozi), FRA Board Chairman (Tonga).
At the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), chairperson (Lozi), vice-chairperson (Mambwe), and that the three other commissioners are Tonga, Lozi and Lunda.
A blogger in one of the whatsapp groups mentioned how President Hichilema has sealed the judiciary appointments via his nepotistic and tribal appointments.
“1. Minister of Justice – Mulambe Haimbe SC- Tonga, 2. Attorney general- Mulilo Kabesha-Lenje, 3. Solicitor general- Marshal Muchende nephew to President Hakainde Hichilema –Tonga, 4. Chief Justice- Mumba Mailila- Soli, 5. Constitutional court President- Prof Margaret Munalula-Lozi, 6. Constitutional Court Deputy President- Arnold Mweetwa Shilimi-Tonga, 7. Court of Appeal President – Mwiinde Siavwapa-Tonga, 8. Judicial Service Commission Chairperson- Mwikisa Mukande- Lozi, 9. Judicial Complaints Commission -Vincent Blackskin Malambo –Tonga. President Hichilema has also appointed his niece, Judge Maria Mapani Kawimbe as Constitutional Court Justice,” the blogger submitted. “Mrs. Maria Mapani Kawimbe enjoys (joins) her sibling that have benefited from the Uncle’s nepotistic appointments; Victor Ben Mapani, ZESCO Managing Director and new IDC CEO Perry Mapani.”
