/ 3 March 2000

NOTORIOUS ZAMBIAN COP REPLACED

PRESIDENT Fredrick Chiluba has retired police chief Francis Ndhlovu, who has been accused of torturing coup plot suspects and failing to curb rising crime. The state-run Times of Zambia said Chiluba had replaced Ndhlovu as inspector general of police with his deputy, Silas Ngangula. Last month, a group of human rights organisations staged a demonstration against Zambian police and called for Ndhlovu’s resignation, accusing him of incompetence. Ndlovu was also accused of having ordered his junior officers to torture suspects implicated in a foiled 1997 military coup against Chiluba. He is due to appear before a public torture commission to testify on his role in the investigations and alleged torture of coup suspects.