By Francis Chipalo
Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) president , Sean Tembo has called on President Hakainde Hichilema to consider dismissing the current Commander of the Zambia Army, Lt. Gen. Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele over his statement that he intends to exterminate illegal miners.
“In as much as we have noted the condemnation and clarification of Lt. Gen. Zyeele’s statement by the Minister of Defense Hon. Ambrose Lufuma yesterday, our considered view is that the Minister’s intervention does not address the underlying issue in this matter,” he said.
Tembo argues that the underlying issue is that the Army Commander should have known that Zambia is a constitutional republic, and that anything that any arm of Government, including the Zambia Army, does, has to be within the confines of the Constitution.
He states that the army commander should also have known that the constitution does not provide for extermination of wrongdoers, but rather it provides for their arrest and presentation before courts of law.
“By threatening the extermination of illegal miners, Lt. Gen Zyeele showed total disregard of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia. Such an act might be excusable if committed by an ordinary citizen,” Tembo has told the media.
Tembo further says the threats of extermination against civilians, made by the army commander, has the potential to tarnish the good image and reputation that the Zambia Army has enjoyed since independence.
“It is our sincere submission to President Hakainde Hichilema, that, as a result of his threats of extermination against civilians, Lt. Gen. Zyeele is no longer a fit and proper person to continue leading the Zambia Army, and must be dismissed forthwith,” he added.
