President Levy Mwanawasa has called for the disciplining of police officers who are allegedly inciting the public to rebel against public order so as to disadvantage his administration and instead, advance the cause of some opposition political parties.
And Dr. Mwanawasa has implored the Zambia Police Service to work towards ensuring that there was peace and security in the country all the time if the country was to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
Dr. Mwanawasa said he was aware that some police officers were campaigning for some political parties when they were supposed to be loyal to the government of the day.
He said some people, including some police officers, have been tempted to think that they would be better off under a different administration other than the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).
The President was speaking last night at the delayed 2007 Zambia Police Superior Officers’ Annual Ball held at Lilayi Superior Officers’ Mess. The theme of the annual ball was “Policing toward the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in Zambia”.
“I have heard and seen officers who deliberately incite the people to rebel against public order so as to disadvantage this administration. I do hope, Mr. Inspector General, that a few of our officers who are turning the name of the police service in this way will either reform for better or be kicked out of the service,” he said.
Dr. Mwanawasa further said his government’s efforts and achievements in improving Zambia’s economy have not been appreciated by some people because the problems were numerous at the time his administration took over power in 2002.
“In fact, I can say that when we came into power more than six years ago, the country was at its knees and poverty was choking the majority of our people. What we have done is merely to scratch the problem, and there is great temptation for our people in whatever status they occupy, to think that their lives will be better under a different administration,” he said.
He added, “…and so some of our unfortunate compatriots easily get swayed in fighting the government of the day in the hope that they will be receiving manna from heaven when this administration is removed from power”.
Dr. Mwanawasa pointed out that it was unfortunate that the police service was not spared from “this fantasy”.
He said government deploys police officers during elections to ensure smooth, free and fair elections but some officers have taken advantage of such an opportunity to decampaign the government in power.
“Unfortunately, the few bad eggs use this occasion as an ideal opportunity for them to campaign for one opposition party or another,” he said.
He said his administration was working hard to improve the living standards of people despite several challenges.
“The truth is that campaigning against the ruling administration in this fashion can throw the police service from a room of white ants to one of red ants,” he said.
And Dr. Mwanawasa has said his government’s efforts towards achieving the MDGs by 2015 would prove futile if the country was not enjoying peace and security.
He said being a government wing that should guarantee security, the police service should step up their role of keeping law and order in the country for it to have a conducive developmental environment.
“Therefore, the police service has a unique but vital role to ensure that the nation continues to be in a state of peace and security. For it is only in such an environment that a truly healthy and prosperous nation could emerge,” he said.
The superior police officers are those from the rank of Assistant Superintendent through to the Inspector General of Police.
Dr. Mwanawasa said for Zambia to attain the MDGs by 2015, it was important to revisit the MDGs in order to examine the role of the police service in assisting government to reach the goals for the betterment of the country.
The President has since directed the police service to establish a unit within the police service which would deal with vices of child defilement and rape in the country.
He said he was deeply concerned about the safety of children in the country, especially that there were a lot of rapists in communities these days.
He observed that the vice was rampant because there was no department or unit that dealt with matters of crimes against children.
“I therefore direct that a special unit within the police service be created to undertake such duties. The unit should be user-friendly to the child by providing an environment where the child will feel safe and protected,” he said.
Dr. Mwanawasa hoped the unit would be operational before the end of this year.
He said defilers and rapists were derailing government’s fight against HIV/AIDS.
Meanwhile, President Mwanawasa said he would like to see all police officers accommodated before he leaves office in 2011.
He said it was for this reason that government would this year, construct 1,500 housing units for the police service.
Earlier, Inspector General of Police, Ephraim Mateyo said the police service would this year employ 1,500 police officers, 300 of whom would have trade and professional certificates.
Mr. Mateyo said the police is targeting to employ, among other professions, brick layers, nurses, and medical doctors.
He said the brick layers would help construct hundreds of housing units for police officers in the country while nurses and doctors would work in the police hospital which would be opened soon in Sikanze camp.
And Mr. Mateyo said police was an important wing in driving the country towards achieving MDGs by 2015.
He said the police would put in place effective and efficient policing methods that would create an enabling environment for economic development.
“Otherwise, the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals will be a pipe dream. In a nutshell, economic growth and effective community policing are interrelated for it is impossible to record success in a crime-prone country or region,” he said.
He thanked government for the support the service received last year, saying without such support, the police would not have achieved the goals it had set for itself.
The Police Internal Investigations Department are happy that the president has reminded them of their duty to investigate erring police officer, The indicated today that they will immediately arrest all police officers inciting rebel of the public order act. “We already know them we shall act faster than the Auditer General did after instructions from the president” said the Inspector.
Now they await instructions from the president to investigate corrupt police officers.
Villagers in Chief Kapoma’s area in S. Province have called upon the President to instruct the inspector General of Police arrest a Head teacher for abuse of 70 thousand Kwacha school grant. Both the Regional and District police officials have refused to comment indicating that cases of plunder are dealt at a high level.
Two days ago the District Commissioner issued instructions to heads of departments urging them to always wait for the presidents opnion before acting.
LPM is a lawyer does not need to reminded that even policemen are people with individual rights.Abraham lincon once said, ” to sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men”. also by lincoln- government is ourselves and not politicians. the ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a president,senators and government officials, but the voters of the country. LPM stop intimidating the honorable police force! viva social and economical justice for all.
The President is not addressing the issues that the Police is undergoing. Most of them still still sleep in market shops and are poorly paid. They become corrupt to survive. For sure they look forward to a govt that will address their plight.