THE Zambia Police Service has deployed 300 police officers in strategic places in Livingstone to provide security to campaigners and residents ahead of the February 28 by-election, Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani has said.
And Ms Libongani has cautioned political parties participating in next week’s by-elections to avoid issuing defamatory statements against the head of State or other politicians.
Ms Libongani said a total number of 300 police officers from Livingstone and Lusaka had positioned themselves in various areas to ensure that the city had a peaceful election.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Southern Province Police Headquarters in Livingstone yesterday, Ms Libongani urged all participating political parties to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner.
“I came here in Livingstone to check on the situation ahead of the by-election on February 28. It is important as police officers that we deliver a violent free by-election and to this end we have deployed enough officers in Livingstone to ensure that throughout campaigns, elections and after, there will be security,” she said.
Ms Libongani also urged political parties to campaign peacefully through political rallies and sell themselves to electorates as opposed to defaming the President and other politicians.
“We don’t want any political party to issue statements which are defamatory in nature against the head of State or other politicians.
All campaigns should be done within the law and they should be done peacefully.
“I also want to assure electorates that the presence of police is to ensure their security before, during and after by-election,” she said.
On measures to protect journalists during the by-elections, Ms Libongani said the police wanted journalists to conduct their work freely without being harassed either by politicians or police on duty.
Speaking at the same function, Southern Province Commissioner of Police Charity Katanga said the police had so far handled five cases of political cadres who engaged in destroying of chitenge materials, assault and defamation of the President among other cases.
Ms Katanga said some cases, which mainly involved United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres and Patriotic Front (PF) cadres, had already been taken to court.
“For instance, Mazabuka Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo is suspected to have defamed President Sata at a campaign rally.
“Mr Nkombo was warned and cautioned and the docket was compiled. We are still waiting for further instructions from the Director if Public Prosecutions (DPP),” she said.
Good Move Prevention is better than cure, Just train the officers to reason before getting excitmented
um,excitmented?nichizungu chakuti ichi mwe bantu?
My Man in Shades, his looks tells it all, even in bed you cant question his perfomance
Do not compare the muzzle of his gun with performance. Looks can be deceiving .These are the chaps who fail to to perform after gun toting with a big muzzle like that.
You have no taste my friend…uuuu, that kapokola makes wonna puke,he probably stinks like Stella!!!
and how many have been deployed in mpongwe since the two areas will be holding elections on the same date?
allweathermall.com
This sounds good from the IG, i think Madam you need to stop te ferrying of cadres from the other towns this is what mainly causes violence.Those strategic positions you are talking about should Road blocks where you donot allow people from Lusaka to go Mpongwe for example, The local people can not fight on their own but its the intruders who bring problems.
iwe ka stella,u failed to handle jerabos is kitwe u think u can be an effective PIG! u used to live off jerabos like youngson,nowonder he undressed u with insults at kitwe central police when u attempted to have him locked up,remember? yaba, ati ba IG!anyway,nothing surprises me anymore in ukwa’s govt.
leave my husband alone katanga, you b.i.t.c.h!He is innocent,if he said Sata is dull,is that defamation? It is a fact,he is dull just like all of you including your IG!
@ Whitney above. Are u becoming another Mushota? We are talking about a by election here not a by “erection”. Please!
She is probably on heat,even a dog can do her especially that,that cop she is admiring looks like a bull dog in my kennels!!!