By Respite Kaoma,
The Community Action Against Corruption (CAAC) has called on stakeholders questioning the Zambia Police Service’s recent in-house recruitment to look beyond the current exercise and examine systemic weaknesses that allow irregular recruitment practices within the Service.
In a statement made available to Mafken News, CAAC Chief Executive Officer Brightone Tembo said the country has previously witnessed irregular police recruitment. He noted that during the Patriotic Front administration, the public only saw pass-out parades without evidence of advertisements or a clear selection process—something he says mirrors the current situation.
Mr Tembo also recalled that Inspector General of Police Graphel Musamba had earlier alleged that the previous regime recruited party cadres into the Service, but did not provide supporting evidence.
CAAC has further advised stakeholders not to “waste time” on the Zambia Police response to the public outcry, arguing that the Service’s statement reflected “a lot of impunity rather than resolution.”
Meanwhile, governance activist Wisdom Muyunda said Zambians appreciate government’s continued efforts to employ and fill vacant positions in the civil service, including the recent recruitment of 4,000 personnel in the Zambia Police Service.
However, Mr Muyunda noted that the recruitment process has raised concerns due to a lack of transparency, which has created mistrust among citizens.
He cited the governance approach of President Hakainde Hichilema, saying it has raised standards through open recruitment processes in institutions such as the Zambia Army, Zambia National Service (ZNS), and Zambia Air Force (ZAF).
