A total of 295 council police officers have officially graduated from the second cohort of the 2025 Council Police Professional Development Programme, marking a significant milestone in Zambia’s push to strengthen local governance and community safety. The colourful pass-out ceremony was held today at the Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute in Chongwe District.
The event was graced by Permanent Secretary (Administration) Dr. Gabriel Pollen, who delivered the keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Gift Sialubalo, MP.
In his speech, the Minister underscored the Government’s continued commitment to empowering local authorities with the skills and resources necessary to maintain law and order, in line with the ongoing decentralisation policy. He highlighted that this initiative is key to improving public service delivery and fostering safer, more orderly communities across the country.
The Minister commended the trainers, facilitators, and partner institutions — notably Chalimbana Local Government Training Institute and the Paramilitary Training School — for their role in equipping the graduates with vital knowledge, discipline, and modern community policing techniques.
He called on the graduating officers to carry forward the values of integrity, teamwork, conflict resolution, and professionalism in their line of duty. These principles, he said, are foundational in building public trust and ensuring the effective functioning of markets, bus stations, and other public spaces.
The ceremony also served as a platform for the Minister to reaffirm Government’s stance against cadreism, vowing that the management of public trading spaces must be fair, transparent, and free of political interference. Council police, he stated, are now central to upholding this new era of accountability and safety in local governance.
As the 295 new officers prepare to be deployed across Zambia, their graduation marks not only the culmination of intensive training but also a renewed national focus on professionalising local policing and promoting a culture of responsible community engagement.