Southern Province Minister, Daniel
Munkombwe, has said that criminal activities in the region have gotten
out of hand following the increase in the number of people being
assaulted and beaten to death.
Mr. Munkombwe said Livingstone and surrounding districts had become a
breeding ground for criminals and called on the Police Commanding
officer, Lemmy Kajoba, to intervene in the matter and ensure police
posts and patrols were increased to curb crime.
The provincial minister said this during a press briefing held at his
office in Livingstone today.
He said quick action by the police service now would prevent the
public from losing confidence in their ability to protect and
safeguard the nation from criminals.
Mr. Munkombwe said crime had a negative impact on tourism and put the
status of Livingstone as a tourist capital at risk because it had the
potential to scare away international tourists and investors.
He advised the commanding officer to ensure his junior officers had
adequate access to transport to enable them carry out crime
prevention operations because he had observed that priority for
transport was given to senior officers that used it for purposes
other than crime prevention.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kajoba confirmed that crime statistics, especially in
the shanty compounds of Livingstone, had increased.
He said all police officers, including those in administration, would
now be required to be on the ground to carry out crime prevention
operations.
Mr. Kajoba partly attributed the increase in crime to events like the
World Malaria Day commemoration and other regional conferences that
were held in Livingstone as they required police manpower adding
that this development left the communities un supervised.
Problem in Livingstone is that the worst criminals are the policemen themselves. They spend their time drinking beer , looking for their next bribe. I speak from experience. I was falsely arrested by some drunken policemen in Livingstone, and released after paying a bribe to a high ranking officer in the station.
There is no plan in Zambia.Its now clear that after losing the fight against corruption, some people have become tired.The country is running on auto at the mercy of GOD.Lets work up.We seem to have no strategy nor do we have a plan to become a middle income earning country despite have all the resources and potential on our disposal.
If crime has to be fought in all angles, the Govt should look into improving police condition of service especially salaries.I’m talking through experience, Soldiers,ZAF and ZNS are paid well inclusive rent but the police they live in houses that even not wealth for pigs.Houses were built by colonial masters still being used what a shame,No running water or sewarage completely blocked. These officers are bitter and disappointed by the govt they serve. Go at Sikanze police camp where Paramilitary Camp is, just near the police HQ no toilets/ bathrooms for officers.These are the same officers the govt use to fight complicated and sophisicated criminals. No wonder KK is greatly missed.
Munkombwe himself is a thug.
I can imagine the ghetto tales of MALOTA in L/stone,so hard to get by,people stabbing each other,others getting drank to death,its really a hell to sketal,its a uncontrollable situation unless strict regulations on kachusu brewing are enforced,but again thats a source of income for them,moreover you find alot of police officers partaking the same,so weak to handle a simple crime scene.Thats what Zed can produce
Am with you #5. Police officers partake in kachasu because thats what they can afford, considering they meagre perks. These chaps need to be sorted out. Otherwise, we shall always align them to criminal activities.
The idea of giving transport to senior officers is a sheer waster of resources. The senior officer just sit in offices. Jonior officers are the ones who deserve such because they operate on the ground. GRZ, revist this aspect if crime rates are to be minimised.
secondly, improve conditions of service for the corps. If not corruption cases alluded to by # 1 and # 3 above will take root.
Yah! What do you expect when a lawyer is ruling? Of course law wages for police men and women, give tents to police men and women to slrrp in with their families, give cars to seniour officers and let constables patrol streets on foot.
I was shocked to read that Hon D. Munkombwe was called a thug by some sick person who should be rushed to Chainama mental Hospital for treatment.
Listen, even if you hate Hon.D. Munkombwe that is not the way to treat our leaders and old people that is not our culture. This sick man who called Hon. D. Munkombwe a thug should be brought to book. We should respect our leaders whether we like them or not. What morals are our children learning from some of these mad pronouncements? Respect yourself please.
Let us ensure that this column is not abused by people who want to settle personal issues against their enemies. We want to learn good communication as a way of promoting unity among readers.
Influx of zim economic refugees, prostitution and now criminal activities.Lets increase security patrols on the boader otherwise these thugs will continue terrorising us.POLICE PAY PATHETIC.
#1 F’UCK YOU!!!!!! if you r ex-zambian then what are you doing making comments. Did I mention, F’UCK YOU!!!!!!
Joe Kabulo.. I have no apologies to call Munkombwe a thug. He is one of the finished politician who is only in the politics for his bread. He is on record to have professed politics of the stomach.. Is that the leader this HK will respect.. NO NO NO..If he is too old to be called names, let him go at take a rest at his Broke again Farm.
#12 With your intelligence and attitude you could be a high ranking police officer in Livingstone
What do u think? Crime in SA has shot up ever since the zimbabwe crisis.Then Zed is next, where do these criminals in L/Stone come from … ? You know what I’m saying.I’m just trying to add up numbers.
Bembas have invaded livingi. Were ever these chaps go we have stealing and thugary. Be it in goverment, police or the army. Borne thugs in harmoney.
#16 good point
#16,#17 That is ridiculous racist nonsense!
HK should know that despite Mr.Munkombwe being an old man, he is very energetic interms of slaughtering women.As a matter of fact he can slaughter better than Mr.Slaughter Man himself(Sikafuswa).
Why do Lozi women want to marry either an Easterner on from Bemba land and avoid their tribe mates??
… “Mr. Kajoba partly attributed the increase in crime to events like the
World Malaria Day commemoration and other regional conferences that
were held in Livingstone as they required police manpower adding
that this development left the communities un supervised.”
What about the increase of Zimbabweans in Livingstone? Doesn’t it pose any danger to Livingstonians?
How many police officers are in Livingstone? Surely not every policeman in Livingstone was at the conferences day and night. If that was the case then that is the worst planning one has ever heard about. And it can only happen in Zambia. Is it because the police are starving and they hard to go to the conferences to get some food? Increase police visibility and all that crime will be a thing of the past. If not even the little tourism activities will dry up. There is just too much laxity in every sphere of Zambian life – Proactivity is zero!
I think all the point youhave raised are genuine and in addition the influx of Zimbabweans has also contributed. Go to Botswana, RSA, whereever there are Zimbabweans there are crime activities., now wonder Zimbabweans are not liked in these countries. I don’t like them either.
It is the shonas who are a tribe on their own. The ndebeles are ok, but the shonas are the most greedy, tribalistic pipo you can meet. From what they put us throu when we were facing problems, they are lucky we treat them with respect in zambia.
Lets send some Para-para there, alot of them.Then they can be screening pipo for regs/ID.I guess the ones committing crime are illegals from across the zambezi.This will turnish our ever glowing tourism reputation. Lets deport these guys and let the skilled ones like teachers, nurses, etc to help us re-build our civil service.
Hey Chips, stop being petty. Zimbabwean are our next door neighbors who do not need to be dehumanized. A good number of Zimbabweans have come to Zambia and have been used as cheap labor in construction industry. They posses superior craftsman skills which if well exploited will benefit Zed. moreover they are not hear to stay forever like our Brothers from Ituri-Congo. This is just a temporary setback.. Let us accommodate them while they contribute to our economy.. Those doing crime, arrest them and let them serve prison terms.
#23 Not all zimbos are thugs. There are a lot of Zambian thieves and it does not imply that all Zambians are thieves. #24 do not bring up issues without facts.You got it wrong on Shonas. I live in SA and statics here indicate that about 90% of Zimbos caught in illegal activities are Ndebeles.
i took an interest to see how policemen are swift to form road blocks.i begun to think that if our polise service can also be swift to combat crime in our communities they way they do with road blocks i am sure zambia can be liken to heaven on earth.if you have been in cites like lusaka,ndola,kitwe and l/stone you will find more than five road blocks and policemen walking around the town to catch tax and bus drivers.the govrn.must increase the number of policemen to patrol our communities than to put 10 officers on on road who are doing but to ask for nchekeleko.we know on the road there is money which they get from motorist.the govern.must put interests in the lives of a common zambian
#16 very true!!
#28 What other purpose do these roadblocks serve other than to get bribes. Do they make the country safer? I think not. Do they catch criminals? I think not. Being a policeman on a roadblock is a very well paid job, but, of course he has to ensure that his senior officer in the station gets his cut, otherwise he would be on another job.
Roadblocks are other sources of income for some police officers. I am happy that Munkombwe has identified the problem but its needs concerted effort to rid with whoever is concerned. The other issue we want the office of the southern province minister to tacle is that the title deeds for the Sikalongo settlement in addition to the bad road network. Tuyanda taala aswebo ku mapanza.
if i am wrong correct me.i have a read a story in the paper where a police man was tranfered from one point to another.i understand he was a trafic officer but where he was sent his duties change from a trafic officer to something and it was said that the man commited suiced coz he didnt want the other position.to me it means police officers only enjoys to be on the road to make money.in fact they dont even catch ciminals there.can the police officers get to do their job than moving in our town centres to collect bribes from the motorists?it is said that a roadblock will make an officer rich and night patrols will risk the life of an officer.i understand there risk allowance is so little….