Zambia's newly-elected President Hakainde Hichilema on yesterday appointed new military chiefs and replaced all police commissioners after promising to end the previous regime's heavy-handedness.

Right groups accused former president Edgar Lungu of leading a "brutal crackdown" on dissent, with police violence claiming at least five lives since he was officially elected in 2016.

Hichilema, who took office last week, has been arrested over a dozen times during his political career.

In a televised address to the nation yesterday, the president announced the appointment of new army and airforce chiefs, as well as a new head of the defense wing.