The Zambia Police Service has received with mixed feeling the Zambia Bribe Payers Index report which ranks the service and the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) as the most corrupt public departments in the nation.
Police Spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela said the Police Service views the report as Transparent International’s perception towards the law enforcement agencies which could be true or false.
Speaking to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Ms Kanjela said that it would have been logical for Transparent International to report those officers to the Ant Corruption Commission for an appropriate action.
Ms Kanjela said although it is true that there are some bad officers in the police, it was not fair to generalize the entire police service thereby denting the corporate image of the department.
She reiterated that the Police Service remains committed to protecting, preserving life and property as well as maintaining law and order in the nation.
She said the police remains stead fast in the discharge of duties adding that those corrupt officers found wanting have always been dealt with in accordance with the existing laws of the land.
Ms Kanjela said it is not fair to insinuate that all the officers in the Zambia Police Service are corrupt because the majority are able to discharge their duties professionally.
And efforts to get a comment from RTSA proved futile by press time as their contacts numbers went unanswered.
Last week, the 2012 Index report which was released in Lusaka ranked the two institutions in first and second places in terms of corruption respectively.
ZANIS
POINT OF COLLECTION; IT IS THE LEAST PAID PUBLIC INSTITUTION NOT CORRUPT.
sad check is it collection for correction?
@SAD, are you saying that since they are the least paid so they have the right to ask for bribes and such? Look honesty people who take pride in their professions can do their jobs without being corrupt.
The problem with our Police, and many other govt institutions, is NOT necessarily LOW PAY. It is the THIEVING CULTURE that has been left unchecked for a long time that it has now become normal and acceptable as part of life.
Pride in and respect (not pay) for what one does as a professional is a powerful antidote against misbehaving at work! Because if it was pay alone, we wouldn’t be seeing well-paid CEOs and govt officials, both in the third world and developed countries, getting caught up in corruption cases—these people, like cops, have little respect for what they do!
Well, are you saying that they are not corrupt but instead they are extortionist?
Lowest paid indeed with some traffic officers owning huge mansions worth billions of Kwacha????? Thieves!!
WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT OUR POLICE FORCE IS MASSIVELY CORRUPT, IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT THEY ARE POORLY HOUSED, POORLY PAID, POORLY UNIFORMED AND POORLY EQUIPPED. THE GOVT MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE SHORTFALLS. HOWEVER, THE GOVT THROUGH IT’S DEPARTMENTS MUST URGENTLY CLEAN UP CORRUPTION AND OTHER NUMEROUS NEGATIVES IN THE POLICE FORCE AND RTSA AS THEY ARE MORE THAN EVIDENTLY THE MOST CORRUPT INSTITUTIONS IN ZAMBIA. THE RESULTS OF CORRUPTION IN THESE INSTITUTIONS RIGHTLY MENTIONED BY Transparent International ARE NUMEROUS ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND LACK OF QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE DELIVERY IN GOVT INSTITUTIONS. THE POLICE FORCE MUST TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES TO CLEAN UP THE FORCE.
Point of collection… Nice one. Lol
He could be right…”point of collection” could be a police rd block where they collect bribes,lol.
The correct position is that Zambians motorists are the most corrupt. They are the ones who bribe police men. It takes two or more for corruption to take place.
Disregard S on Zambians I meant Zambian motorists
He He He Sad is a Bemba. R isn’t in their alphabet
certainly least paid,not most corrupt for sure.
Ask any motorist what happens when they are found with a case by the traffic police. The officer goes on to say with an officer you will just pay KR150 but @ the police station you will pay KR270. Obviously a normal person would take the KR150 option which is also negotiable and can come to KR50
But why dont you report such an officer if what you saying is true? Stop this trend of natural hatred. Be realistic as normal human being.
John would you rather pay 270 & not 150 or even 50 ?? If your money grow on trees its not the same for some of us.
To # 2.1: Bicause it will end up in Court for treason. Do you know the meaning of POLICE?
WITH ANOTHER ABNORMALLY CORRUPT PERSON, “…would take the KR150 option which is also negotiable and can come to KR50.”
MIND YOU A BRIBED POLICE OFFICER AND A BRIBING MOTORIST ARE BOTH STINKING CORRUPT INDIVIDUALS. A HIGHLY PRINCIPLED MOTORIST WOULD PREFER TO PAY AT THE POLICE STATION WHERE THE MONEY IS MOST LIKELY TO END UP IN GOVT COFFERS, SINCE RB IS NO LONGER THE PRESIDENT.
@Peter – Yes the money will end up in GRZ coffers where it will be misused or used irresponsibly (e.g. For unnecessary by elections)… Same difference – the system is rotten top to bottom!
Very true. I was also shocked to learn from the Transparent International that Zambia police was the most corrupt institution in our country. I always wonder as to why people are against the Zambia police service regardless of its officers working tireless day and night protecting property and serving the lives of the Zambians. If the Transparent International have a genuine reason to accuse the police service, why don`t they report the perpetrators to the ACC or any other investigative wings? Can Transparent International inform the nation the number of police officer who have been arrested for corruption? I think it is the Transparent International themselves who are corrupt in their mind. Transparent International have never written any good about the Zambia Police service.
Do you drive??
John you speak as though u live on plate MARS. Do U drive???
u are shocked? so you dont know that the police are most corrrupt bcoz even a common person is aware of that.
THEY ARE STINKING CORRUPT. THAT’S A FACT. THERE MUST BE A QUICK WAY OF THE PUBLIC BEING ABLE TO FONE A DEPARTMENT IN THE POLICE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ERRING OFFICERS.
I think the comment is a bit off… First it’s important to understand the methodology of how they arrive at the report… it’s based on a survey. How can you say that if your respondents in a research survey (seeking to tabulate practical experiences of respondents (incl. motorists)), the statistics you shud expect TIZ to have reported to ACC, when the research is based on what the respondents did in the past (say 12 months)! The correct question is “why did such respondents report the case, and you will fnd that its not all, some could have reported, but that does not stop them from acknowledging in a survey that the police slicited for bribes!
John…
The police work tirelessly? Where? In Zambia? Get real… you speak of an unprofessional bunch that just works for personal gain. Call them today to stop a break in, they will tell you that they have no transport. The following day you will find them at a makeshift road block… demanding KR 100.00 and above. When you ask them to charge you so you can pay within fourteen days at the station, it becomes an impoundable offense. The worst are woodlands and emasdale…. those guys are shameless. The rest are better. The IG needs to keep an eye on Woodlands and Emasdale traffic police.
Come-on ba ZP it is general knowledge ati ba police are corrupt just accept it and try to fix the issues.
Take a look at the police stations in the city of Lusaka. You will discover that they are parked with numerous motor vehicles at night. This is a clear sign that the police are not doing there job and people are insecure. Go to the police station and report a robbery, they will ask you to bring you own transport to come and collect them. Sometimes when u take your transport there, they will tell you they don’t have enough man power hence, are unable to come with you. Our police is underpaid, under equipped and we are surviving by the grace of God. We need better policing as a nation as we are too few to be this poor. Leaders, help your people
My neighbour was once attacked by robbers at his home around 0100h. He called the police only to be told.”Bwela uti tenge”. Just how the peverts are outside.
“Ms Kanjela said it is not fair to insinuate that all the officers in the Zambia Police Service are corrupt because the majority are able to discharge their duties professionally.”
IT SHOULD READ”Ms Kanjela said it is fair to insinuate that all the officers in the Zambia Police Service are corrupt because the minority are able to discharge their duties professionally.
WHAT PROFFESSIONALISM ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT.YOU ARE NOW JUST AN ARMED MILITIA GROUP OF THE PF.IF YOU WANT TO SALVAGE THE LITTLE RESPECT LEFT YOU HAVE TO SHOW IMPARTIALITY AND RESPECT TO ALL CITIZENS OTHERWISE YOU ARE AS GOOD AS A TISSUE PAPER!
No, my argument is that you are saying the police are corrupt, you mean you do not know that corruption involves two people? Who starts the corruption? Is it the police or a civilian? I f a police officer asks you to give him some money or any gift for the service he rendered to you, why dont you report such a one to the ACC? You are the first one to tell the police that you will give him something if he does you some favor, so who is corrupt between you and the police?
Indeed the zp is very much equipped wen dealing with UPND armed to teeth ready to kill upnd members, “to teach them political lesson!” ask Jere these are his language. Instead of improving the general policemen and women the political connection top brass are busy building mansions.
Where are the majority who are not corrupt? The image of Zambia Police is a tattered one as far as corruption is concerned. If one is driving a foreign registered car he/she becomes a target of the police who will try all tricks to squeeze some money from the driver.
Check you language we will malitia mwaiche @zambia4life
you think cops are happy,you are just thieves and you want to eat alone ba mbuli imwe..!
Ubomba mwibala alya mwibala akapya walya aculilemo buju
Kanjela this is a fair reflection by the index – I feel pity for bus drivers who have to to make cash up and contribute to the livelihood of the police officers..The manda hill police post is the most corrupt as they ask the drivers to secure surety for the offence.
One of the bus drivers had to inconvenience us when he was forked out of the main road to pay for the offence he committed as the surety was useless.i have proof to this as it happened on monday 11.03.13.
Kanjela the Police traffic officers was wearing glasses..which i think are sunglasses. this happened around 18:30 on monday.
Enough corrupt activities in the police service and they have lost there morality whereto they dont care which passengers is on the bus!
I commend our police because oneday i was caught doing something in the car with my sweetheart who i picked from club, but i gave the man 50pin and i went scot free.
What is that something?? Go home or get a room be it hotel or lodge. By the way sweetheart from a club is that not an import ??
we all know that these guys are the most corrupt, stop denying it and do something about it.
It’s clear that most people don’t understand how a Perception Index is arrived at. It doesn’t mean TIZ has specific names of officers who are corrupt. A perception Index will merely indicate what the majority of the population tested feel. And it’s a good indicator because it most of the time reflect reality.
This madam also, so emotional. Why not just question the criteria that the TIZ uses to establish their index. It’s could be a quantitative one and not qualitative as she is putting it. In short, it could not be just their opinions.
Police RTSA, spot on. Then there is the department of registration of births, deaths and marriages, and the passport office. Even the children at home use the “Nalasosa (i will reveal) formula…
Elizabeth Kanjela lives on Mars.
Not Venus?
Its not about being lowly paid.After all the entire civil service is not well paid.The issue comes to the calibre of cadres recruited in the service.The uncle who joined the ploice when the were picking grade sevens and about to retire convinces the recruiting officer/s to include a relative who barely can spell his first name and passed through a basic school with a maximum points (54).Looking at such a police officer what would you expect.Their must be professionalism in police and promotions should be tied to academic achievement.RESTRUCUTURE THE WHOLE SYSTEM PERIOD.
What spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela should do is conduct her own investigative by interviewing Minibus drivers, the most affected as each Minibus has to pay at least Kr 50 every day to traffic officers in order to operate effectively each day.
I agree with the report especially on ROAD BLOCKS. Every day police Officers that mounts road blocks reaps thousands if not millions of kwacha from motorists, by paying bribes of say KR20 to allow the vehicle operate on a road with defects instead of going to pay KR250 at central police stations. Calculate the number of vehicles that pas through that check point in a day and multiply that with KR20.
The other area is in issuing of driving licenses, they are bribed issue even those that could have failed the road test.
Loop holes that cause corruption are too numerous to point out.
Correction, bribed “to” issue.
No denying that ZP are irredemably corrupt.Being corrupt is both an indicator and an admission that a person is not resourceful enough or willing to work hard for their daily bread.Dambisa Moyo is resourceful and hardworking.
Lol! RTSA and ZP, if the shoe fits…..
All this corruption is caused by our law makers who seem to make laws that would suit a country with very rich people . They themselves would find it difficult to pay KR270.00 for a small traffic offence . WHAT THEY NEED TO LEARN is that it is not always the SEVERITY of punishment that deters a person from committing an offence BUT THE SURETY OF PUNISHMENT . If the fine was say KR30.00 there would be far less incentive for someone to take or offer a bribe . Together with this the practice of paying at a Road Block or Check Point must stop . The very act of producing or receiving money at such places should be deemed an offense .