Stop sneaking recruits into police – Kalaba
By Thandizo Banda
WE CALL out the United Party for National Development (UPND) administration to stop sneaking in police recruits but do it transparently, says Citizens First president Harry Kalaba.
Kalaba said in a statement the conduct was an affront to democratic governance, a betrayal of public trust, and a direct violation of the principles of meritocracy and equal opportunity.
“As a political party committed to transparency, integrity, accountability and equal opportunity for all Zambians, we wish to express grave concern and hereby strongly condemn the secret recruitment of officers by the Zambia Police Service,” he said.
“The CF firmly holds that the recruitment of officers to all defence and security agencies must be subjected to open and public advertisement so that all eligible citizens across Zambia can participate and be afforded a fair and equal opportunity to serve as officers in the Zambia Police Service, Zambia Army, Zambia National Service (ZNS), Zambia Air Force (ZAF), Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC); and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), among others,” he Kalaba said.
He said the transparency in the recruitment of police officers and other security personnel was not optional. It was a constitutional and moral obligation.
“A transparent recruitment process instils public confidence that officers are recruited strictly on merit, and in doing so, actively dispels the dangerous perceptions of tribalism, nepotism and favouritism that erode national unity and the integrity of our security institutions,” Kalaba said.
He reminded President Hakainde Hichilema of his 2021 pre-election promises in which he pledged to the Zambian people that under his administration, no officers would be recruited secretly and that all Zambians regardless of their backgrounds, would be given equal opportunity for employment in government and its institutions.
“The Zambian people elected him on the strength of those promises, and they deserve nothing less than their full implementation,” he Kalaba.
He said CF reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to transparent and inclusive governance.
“We pledge that as CF, we will run a government where everything we do will be done transparently, and where equal employment opportunity will be extended to all Zambians regardless of tribe, race or religion, conducted in a manner guided by integrity, fairness and the national interest. No Zambian shall be left behind or denied an opportunity to serve their nation because of who they are or where they come from,” Kalaba said.
Kalaba urged the UPND administration to immediately halt all secret recruitment exercises in the Zambia Police Service and other security agencies, and to institute an open, merit-based, and publicly advertised recruitment process forthwith.
“Zambia belongs to all its citizens, and every Zambian deserves an equal chance to serve and protect it,” he said.
