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Barely days First Vice President Justin Malewezi resigned from the ruling United Democratic Front, police have grabbed a Land Rover registration MP 1540 which he was using as a lead on his convoy and plans to reduce his 31-officer security detail by half.
Special personal assistant to the Vice President Madalitso Kuyela said in an interview the vehicle was taken away on Friday night, a day after Malewezi announced his resignation and that they had a briefing from the Guard Commander on the review of security.
“The guard commander informed us in the Principal Secretary’s office on the meeting he had with the Inspector General (IG) to discuss the reduction of the security detail for the Vice President. He said that there is a possibility that the veep will remain with one security officer as other body guards will be withdrawn but all that is yet to be implemented,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner Chitanda, Malewezi’s guard commander, confirmed having a meeting with the IG at police headquarters where a review of Malewezi’s security was discussed.
He however, denied that he informed the meeting that the Land Rover will not be returned.
“I explained that it is going for repairs and will be returned as soon as it is finished but without the amber lights on top of it,” he said.
The Inspector General Joseph Aironi on Sunday confirmed his meeting with the Veep’s guard commander and his deputy and defended his action as normal.
“Yes, I called them as their boss and asked them to give notice to the veep’s office that his security personnel will be reduced. I did not say that it should be reduced now” he said.
Asked why his office decided to review Malewezi’s security now, the IG said that he is only trying to start preparing reassignment of officers as the veep retires because doing that after May will be difficult,” he said.
Aironi dismissed assertions that the Land Rover will not be given back to the Vice President’s office saying it has only gone for repairs and will be returned by Monday.
But some senior officers within the Veep’s office said that the vehicle will not be returned because its the first time police are asking to repair. All the time, said one of the officers, the office of the vice president has been responsible for the maintenance of the car.
By Monday, the Land Rover had not been returned to the Veep’s office as promised. Officers in the Veep’s office who asked for anonymity said the security officers were at the offices awaiting further orders instead of manning their designated posts.
But in another interview on Monday afternoon, Aironi had a change of heart. He said that the Land Rover belongs to police because the insurance is paid by police and the licence is kept by them and not the Veep’s office.
“And on security all the 31 officers are intact. I have not removed anyone as it is being said. All the people are there, the guard commander, his deputy, the driver and two lady officers for the vice president’s wife are still there with other senior officers,” Aironi said.
Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet Kamphambe Nkoma said that the reduction depends on what factors police have put into consideration.
“Ordinarily when one goes on leave it does not mean that he loses all the benefits. Malewezi is still vice president and I don’t know how police are interpreting it but if its manpower redeployment as the veep retires which is the main factor, then that’s within the powers of the IG,” he said.
Malewezi’s resignation as first deputy national chairman of the UDF has sent shock waves across the political divide and angered the leadership in the ruling party.
Described as a man who has lived above regionalism, tribalism, nepotism by political scientists, Malewezi’s resignation ups stakes for a further exodus of the ruling party’s top leadership.
UDF have not yet responded publicly to Malewezi’s resignation.,Barely days First Vice President Justin Malewezi resigned from the ruling United Democratic Front, police have grabbed a Land Rover registration MP 1540 which he was using as a lead on his convoy and plans to reduce his 31-officer security detail by half.
Special personal assistant to the Vice President Madalitso Kuyela said in an interview the vehicle was taken away on Friday night, a day after Malewezi announced his resignation and that they had a briefing from the Guard Commander on the review of security.
“The guard commander informed us in the Principal Secretary’s office on the meeting he had with the Inspector General (IG) to discuss the reduction of the security detail for the Vice President. He said that there is a possibility that the veep will remain with one security officer as other body guards will be withdrawn but all that is yet to be implemented,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner Chitanda, Malewezi’s guard commander, confirmed having a meeting with the IG at police headquarters where a review of Malewezi’s security was discussed.
He however, denied that he informed the meeting that the Land Rover will not be returned.
“I explained that it is going for repairs and will be returned as soon as it is finished but without the amber lights on top of it,” he said.
The Inspector General Joseph Aironi on Sunday confirmed his meeting with the Veep’s guard commander and his deputy and defended his action as normal.
“Yes, I called them as their boss and asked them to give notice to the veep’s office that his security personnel will be reduced. I did not say that it should be reduced now” he said.
Asked why his office decided to review Malewezi’s security now, the IG said that he is only trying to start preparing reassignment of officers as the veep retires because doing that after May will be difficult,” he said.
Aironi dismissed assertions that the Land Rover will not be given back to the Vice President’s office saying it has only gone for repairs and will be returned by Monday.
But some senior officers within the Veep’s office said that the vehicle will not be returned because its the first time police are asking to repair. All the time, said one of the officers, the office of the vice president has been responsible for the maintenance of the car.
By Monday, the Land Rover had not been returned to the Veep’s office as promised. Officers in the Veep’s office who asked for anonymity said the security officers were at the offices awaiting further orders instead of manning their designated posts.
But in another interview on Monday afternoon, Aironi had a change of heart. He said that the Land Rover belongs to police because the insurance is paid by police and the licence is kept by them and not the Veep’s office.
“And on security all the 31 officers are intact. I have not removed anyone as it is being said. All the people are there, the guard commander, his deputy, the driver and two lady officers for the vice president’s wife are still there with other senior officers,” Aironi said.
Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet Kamphambe Nkoma said that the reduction depends on what factors police have put into consideration.
“Ordinarily when one goes on leave it does not mean that he loses all the benefits. Malewezi is still vice president and I don’t know how police are interpreting it but if its manpower redeployment as the veep retires which is the main factor, then that’s within the powers of the IG,” he said.
Malewezi’s resignation as first deputy national chairman of the UDF has sent shock waves across the political divide and angered the leadership in the ruling party.
Described as a man who has lived above regionalism, tribalism, nepotism by political scientists, Malewezi’s resignation ups stakes for a further exodus of the ruling party’s top leadership.
UDF have not yet responded publicly to Malewezi’s resignation.
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