The Law dictionary defines the police force as a branch of the government that is responsible for the preservation of public order and tranquillity, promotion of public safety, health and morals and the prevention, detection and punishment of crimes. It is a profession in that it consists of a group of people that have undergone specialised training for the purpose of supplying a service to others. Every nation needs the police force in order to have law and order. Police officers are expected to work with the communities in order to carry out the above. The nation in return will achieve safer communities.
- The police service being a profession, it has rules and conducts which may include the following:
- Police officers must understand their scope of practice.
- They must not exceed their authority when carrying out their duties.
- They must not knowingly restrict individual’s freedom
- They must not knowingly disobey rules and laws
The police are allowed to carry firearms for the following reasons:
- For the protection of their lives or the life of another person
- Apprehending a person who they believe is dangerous
- Destroying a potentially dangerous animal or alerting people about something dangerous
Before firing, the police officer must ensure it is necessary to do so.
The relationship between the police and the community is very important in any given nation. People in the community must have trust in the police force, they must feel safe in the presence of the police. They must feel free to rush to the police when faced with insecurity. The police must ensure the relationship is strengthened by abiding to their ethics.
So then, what is happening with our Police service (Zambia Police, ZP)? How strong is the relationship between the community and the police? Who is to blame? Is it the government, the police service or the community?
For employs to enjoy what they do they must get what is called job satisfaction. The happier they are the more valuable they become to the people they serve. If the police are not experiencing job satisfaction they must take this up with the government using correct channels and not on innocent citizens. But we see a different kind of reaction, if anything our police seem to be acting if favour of the ruling party. Anyone under the name of the ruling party will walk away unhurt. If one tries to criticise the ruling party then that person is doomed especially opposition political parties whose leaders are perpetually in and out of courts.
The police are well known for their love of money outside their offices. People escape being apprehended for offences by merely paying these police officers. Saddest thing is when public bus drivers are made to pay the police officers on public roads while passengers are watching. Who has not experienced this? So anyone can drive public vehicles so long they have money to pay once they are caught. This has contributed to the rising number of accidents on roads killing innocent people.
Talking on mobile phones while driving is illegal according to the Zambian laws however many drivers still do this. I at one stage had to stop a driver from using a mobile phone while driving a public minibus, not many people will be brave enough to do so.Talk about the wrongful use of ammunition in public places, recently I read the news on a loss of life while police were trying to disperse students that were protesting against some issues with institutions. This is very sad.
These actions have led to loss of trust by the community in the police service. People are now taking the law into their own hands as they believe the police will not be able to help. Examples of these are; instant mob injustice like burning of cars when a driver hits a pedestrian and people been killed by angry crowds before they are brought in for a fair trial.
Lastly I would like to comment on something I would call inhuman. Displaying dead bodies in the media including the internet that were killed by the police or in motor vehicle accidents. I have never seen such disturbing behaviour in the western world. You can show the mangled vehicles but not the bodies regardless of what these people had done when they were alive.
By Florence Chalabesa
Do you know the meaning of Zambia police? Zabwino palibe!
Can you expect anything good from that?
change it from a force to a service. they should serve and protect.
That was done a long long time ago, they have been Zambia Police Service for some time now. I guesss name change does not make any difference.
Ever read Animal farm? What became of the puppies under Napoleon’s care?
well articulated article madam.
but there is nothing new in this as most of what you have covered has been highlighted in one way or another, to the authorities that be for redress.
lets just start pressurizing the govt. to deal with all these complaints about our police service’s inertia.
we all need police services at any given time regardless of our political affiliations.
just disolve the whole service and train other people.
This is a good article for citizens to reflect on. The Zambia Police have never been professional as far as I can remember. In the early 70s and 80 police officers were well known for brutalising citizen by slapping them hard in the face even in the presence of their children (ati ba kapokola ni ba mbama)
Zambian Police are simply uniformed bullies. Nothing more
ATM=ROAD BLOCK. It has become the best job ever. Few years ago our police were hungry, poverty stricken and some homeless after retiring. Now things have changed they own most of the mini buses they are building mansions not because their salaries have gone up but they have a very active ATM. THEY WANT CEMENT, CHILD HAS BEEN CHASED FROM SCHOOL—–ATM.
bring back brenda muntemba and musonda u will see how profesional they are and how they transferd it to being a service,they were so profesional such that greed individuals felt thretened.
Add Dr Malama to make it a trio
These are Signs of a failed government, with No Law and Order. Imagine how the Zambian Police Force has reduced itself to drunks and party cadres. It is a shame. No wonder Sata humiliated your Boss about his Tummy.
Zambia is a FAILED State. No self respecting human beings can have PF riffraffs as leaders! Just sell the bloody thing to the highest bidders. Its almost 50 years of rubbish and nothing to show for it except poverty, dictatorship and dirt!
I don’t expect to see what is showing in the picture. What was wrong for carrying a chair for HH? People lets be serious for once. Unless there is more to it.
The behaviour of the Police is unfortunately being known by the world community. This effectively will make investors think twice on setting up industries in Zambia. The Police are painting a bad picture of themselves for failure to interpret simple Laws.
Zambians should cling to a prayer asking God to help the new non-PF Government restructure the Police and send Police Officers, at all levels, for re-fresher courses.
POLOCE OR POLICE are DOGS working under the MZASTERS’ COMMANDs.
POLICE are DOGS working under the MASTERS’ COMMANDs
Libongani is the most incompetent IG since Zambia became independent. She’s failed to harmonize and balance up the three Ps ~ Politicians, Public and Police. She leans so heavily in favor of the Politicians and forgets the public she’s supposed to be serving and the Police officers who are supposed to carry out the task.
The result is a Public that has completely lost confidence in the Police and Police officers without any morale
I wanted to comment on a separate issue arising from the use of firearms. “A person who they believe is dangerous” is a term that cops abuse, even in America, however there was a Supreme Court case here that set precedent for the limits of shooting a fleeing suspect. Zambian police regularly shoot at someone who runs away, even if there is no evidence that they are armed and going to harm someone (and the odds are that the person is unarmed anyway). This puts people in the area in danger of stray bullets, as well. I’d much rather have someone who stole my purse or who sold dagga evade capture than be shot to death.
The only way you can understand the police is when you become one. If you are outside the police you will not understand them nor will you comprehend their problems. By the way Mrs. Muntemba was not as professional as you think ask those who worked with her.
Which Mrs Muntemba? Brenda’s mother? Was she also in the police?
BOMA NI BOMA BANE….JOIN THEM AND CHANGE THINGS…..GOOD AT TALKING WITH NO ACTION IS COWARDICE BAMBULI IMWEE!!!!!
you seem to be one of them.
Zabwino Paalibe apa. 10 babuju against one man !
As long as we continue hammering them, maybe one day it will sink in. Well analysed article.
As long as we continue hammering at them, maybe one day it will sink in. Well analysed article.
Not all do that.the best way to handle the corrupt ones is by using the anti-corruption (secretely) commission.once caught,the officer should lose job.f* the government if they wont do so.