Police and Prisons Service Commission has expressed sadness that police officers in Pemba police camp were illegally connecting electricity in their houses using ‘cobweb’ style because the camp was not originally electrified.
Commission chairperson Alexander Museba said the cobweb connections were posing a danger to the police officers and their families noting that electricity connections should always be done professionally.
Mr. Museba was speaking when he addressed police officers at Pemba police station during a tour to familiarise the commission with the environment and conditions under which police and prison officers operate in the district.
He said the revelations by Pemba Police Officer-In-Charge Lackson Mwale that his officers were illegally connecting electricity in their homes were disturbing.
He has since ordered Mr. Mwale to pursue the matter with the Zambia electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) in order to prevent loss of life in the camp.
Speaking earlier, Pemba District Commissioner Reginald Mugoba highlighted challenges faced by police officers in his district.
Among the challenges which Mr. Mugoba unveiled were lack of transport for all police units, inadequate staff and office accommodation, lack of water and toilet facilities and police cells especially for juveniles and female suspects.
He said the current cell was a single roomed transit cell which could only accommodate five suspects.
He said female and juvenile suspects were kept at the reception before they were transferred to Monze.
Mr. Mugoba added that the inadequate capacity of the victim support unit (VSU) was a nightmare especially that cases of gender based violence (GBV), defilement and early marriages were rampant in his district.
“This unit is very important in this district because cases of spouse abuse, child abuse and early marriages are rampant. Currently the VSU operates on a desk without an office making it impossible to handle matters which require confidentiality and seclusion,” Mr. Mugoba said.
He has since appealed to the Police and Prisons Service Commission to quickly address the transport problem which has seriously hampered operations of all police units.
He disclosed that the police were usually borrowing the council vehicle for operations while traffic officers were using private vehicles for patrols, a situation he said had potential to encourage corruption especially in the traffic section of the police.
ZANIS
Pemba needs a modern decent police camp. Surely 50 years with no electricity and water. We should improve the living standards of our officers if we have to get the best from them.
These policemen have been taught abuse of power by their PF masters.
Ignorance is a cancer. Abuse, corruption and theft have existed in Zambia
before PF was conceived. Be a thinker not a follower.
Buju ni mpupu
Boma izakashoka family. Stop illegal connections. Malaiti siaziba ati boma ili above the law.
A country of i.d.i.o.t.s really.
Did you just say we are idiots because police officers are connecting electricity to their houses? It’s the officer in charge who is an idiot not all Zambians choose your words nicely Kolwe iwe!
@And You uletukafye ba wiso na ba noko ni ba I.d.i.o.t ka? pantu icipuba ecifilwa ukufunda umwana pakuya,so iwe bakakufunda ngawabwela.
@ and you, I hope neither you nor any of your family members stay in that country!
No wonder in the West they say nothing works in Africa. This whole environment needs updating in order to operate normally. No electricity after half a century of independence. People living in camps where the houses can best be described as chicken runs. Shame.
So is there a different law for police officers? Why havent they been arrested? Why are ZESO being asked to do a hush hush on this situation? And you expect those who are stealing electricity elsewhere to listen to authorities after this?
Where are they tapping power from?
Is it not a similar case of lilayi paramilitary
Camp where power was being tapped
from bathrooms outside.
Zambian namayo I like your comment. Bauze!
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