Friday, March 29, 2024

Where were the police and PF ‘soldiers’ guarding City market

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By Kasebamashila Kaseba

Fire at City Market in Lusaka

Lusaka City Market (LCC)was built in 1997 with a designated police station providing day and night police guard.

Secondly, the LCC run by a market management prohibits cooking and fire inside the market.

In addition and importantly, the power is switched off from the sockets at 18:00 and 16:00 on holidays as the police order evacuation of market.

After the evacuation and clearance and sweeping of the markets, there is a police inspection and after some hours orders to shoot on sight anyone found inside or outside or near the market.

In short, between 18:00 closure to 06:30 openning, the Lusaka City Market is a police high security installation.

And in the past, after the fire of Kamwala Market, the PF seemed to have taken over both the co-management and co-guarding of the market.

While the city Market has suffered fire attacks and MMD co-management this fire and PF takeover may be the serious.

Who is behind this barbaric incident? As in all security and investigation situations, the cause of a fire, whether foul play or inside, comes from the reports of the security on duty; not Lusaka Fire Brigade or Ministry of Home Affairs or PF or Zambia Police?

Now after the Ndola ZESCO pylons burning, and President Edgar Lungu threat of state of emergency declaration at the same time denial of political tension, the LCM fire raises the political heat or tension.

Its so sad that public money was used to construct the market to improve the lives of many Zambians who are in the informal sector and just an evil person works up to burn it.

This should not be happening in Zambia a Christian nation where people  are to embrace one another in a brotherly love.

Despite the security alert from the Zambia police Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja security officers failed to spot the person behind the sabotage when the facility is guarded 24 hours.

Something has to be done and the officers on duty have to explain the barbaric act of sabotage to infrastructure built at great cost for humanity.

A thorough investigation has to be surely institute rather than just talking, blaming one  another and threatening to arrest traditional leaders for the failure of institutions responsible for the protection of Zambians.

 

42 COMMENTS

    • ………………………………………..tick tock tock tock tock BOOM!

      Zambians are now fade up of useless politics.

    • I once traded in this market immediately after my high school before I went to UNZA.

      l can’t stomach seeing it in flames.

    • If someone did not behave fo.oli.shily in Mongu the country would not be experiencing all these tragidies.

    • IS OUR POLICE FORCE AND OTHER SECURITY AND OTHER SECURITY AND INTELLIGENT WINGS PRO-ACTIVE? UP TO NOW THEY DON’T KNOW THE PATTERN OF ARSON, SURELY? HOW COME NO ONE HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR THE SAME ATTROCITY? CCTV IS NOW VERY CHEAP. THE GOVERNMENT MUST ENACT LAWS FOR EVERY BUSINESS TO INSTAL CCTV IN AND AROUND THEIR PREMISES. AND ROADS LEADING TO PUBLIC PLACES MUST BE MANNED BY CCTV INCLUDING HOSPITALS, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, ETC.

    • ZAMBIASEEMS TO BE THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT CAN’T COPY GOOD PRACTICES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. FOR INSTANCE WHY HASN’T THE FIRE BRIGADE BEEN DECENTRALISED IN TOWNS AND CITIES. EG, WHY CAN’T FIRE BRIGADES BE STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED AT MARKETS, HOSPITALS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS? WHY ONLY HAVE FIRE BRIGADE ONLY OPPOSITE LUSAKA CENTAL POLICE STATION AND KK AIRPORT? PLEASE, DECENTRALISE SERVICES SUCH AS AMBULANCE, POLICE AND FIRE BRIGADE ITSELF.

    • “Mr Kanganja said in a statement that intelligence information indicate that some criminals are planning to deliberately cause havoc through destroying or vandalizing vital installations which include bridges,power stations, transmission lines,government buildings,communication facilities,to mention but a few”. This was the staement put out by the Inspector General on yesterday.

      He went further to say and I quote again:
      “We have intensified our operations to ensure that all vital installations are safe guarded.We will also be mounting Snap Security check points in which motor vehicles will be stopped randomly and subjected to thorough searches,”Kanganja said.

      Having had that intelligence well in advance and taken the necessary precautionary measures to prevent this from…

    • cont’d: Having had that intelligence well in advance and taken the necessary precautionary measures to prevent this from happening, should Mr Kanganja be taking responsibility for this and accept failure? Should he still continue in his job?

  1. I wonder also if we have security in this country.The police knows the danger but they have failed to protect the public properties.What no—nse——-se is this from the police.Who doest know that properties are being burnt?where is the police to protect the country?Iam shocked tooo.They busy drinking fimambala. Nowonder even foreighner get live animals in Zambia in parks bcoz the security is so dull.When intelligent people to employed in security wings not dull chaps who can’t even solve simple integers.The president was in danger in mongu due to use—-lesssss police.For me the police is doing nothing and Soidier should be deployed in this sensitive places.City market was supposed to protected by police officers but alas fyaya mukunya.annoyed PF Member with police.

    • How can any normal human being celebrate this tragedy? How can people be so heartless? All for what? Think again brother. There’s no profit in what you are doing, this is the only country we have. We’ve elections every 5 years & history has proved that opposition can win if they put interests of Zambians ahead of theirs. At this rate any opposition party that celebrates tragedy & suffering can never be supported by any well meaning Zambian. Don’t forget that God is in control of this country. He will sort you out Himself. God Bless Zambia

  2. The police were not there because they knew this was a PF plan to blame on the opposition. They have a station there. That is why they said they have intelligence that some people are planning to sabotage public institutions. Even a grade 7 can tell you that this is a PF plan to cause Lungu to declare a state of emergency.

  3. This is why the President should declare a state of emergency so that suspects can be detained without trial. Enough of this nonsense!

    • My friend if you think force will gain you friends think again. You should learn to reason with others rather than always using threats.

  4. The Police are only good at harassing innocent citizens. When it comes to protecting vital state installations, they have no clue in how to do that job.

  5. If really this is the protest by a failed opposition party then they will face the wrath of God. That is the reason why God did not allow evil men to run this country in 2016. While the government is busy building markets evil people are busy burning them. Mukafwapofye ne chinkonko tamwakatekepo Lungu is the president up to 2026. Whacth out! I urge IG of police to work tirelessly to bring the culprit to book. And I am calling on the 3 church mother bodies to speak out and Archbishop Mpundu should be number one to condemn this event. I am disappointed an individual to wake up and destroy thousands of kwacha just because of one person. Shame on you. You will never be in peace on this earth wherever you are hiding even the party that you are supporting will never see victory in Zambia. Mark…

    • Further, people should climb down from their selfish aspirations.

      If this crime is politically motivated, what sort of person harms others just so that s/he can be a servant, with no personal and selfish benefit?

      If one is not elected by the many, one waits for the next opportunity at the ballots.

      Only deranged African, Asian and Arabic people destroy others and beautiful property to impose themselves on their own countries. With this insanity, we will never have beautiful countries, we will always look to the western world for beauty of countries and for hangouts.

      To all politicians: stop the non-sense activities. You are destroying our children and grandchildren’s country.

    • Ba Professor James ikalenifye if you have nothing to say. Let the wings investigating the incident establish the cause of fire and inform the nation accordingly. Not ukuleta your wierd insinuations on this forum.

    • At least now you agree the state has no control of the police… bravo! Now you are seeing with open eyes

      What does this tell you about this governance then??

  6. FOR A LONG TIME AS A COUNTRY, WE HAVE LACKED ACCOUNTABILITY, THIS IS A PURE CASE OF HOLDING THE POLICE RESPONSIBLE OTHERWISE, we will agree that the party in power has a hand in it and wish to blame it on others!! HOW COME THE SO CALLED “ARSON SUSPECTS”that were arrested with “explosive,petrol etc” HAVE NOT BEEN BROUGHT TO COURTS??

  7. Very good question! Earlier a statement was released that Police had intelligence information in relation to such calamities…

    I am left wondering how INTELLIGENT that information was! Or are we being hinted to look in a certain direction!

    Ati economic subbotage…. ahahahahahahaha! PROPHETS everywhere NOW!

    This is very unfortunate and livelihood is destroyed WHOEVER is doing this (mxm, smh)… We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who have lost property and livelihood as a result.

  8. The ***** Kampyongo whatever they call u. Look at what your pfools police have done. Failing to guard people’s livehoods.

  9. Sad development i have no words to describe this whole situation.
    By the way, do we have fire service in Zambia???

  10. BUT THE POLICE STATION IS RIGHT INSIDE THE MARKET FOR WHAT PURPOSE? THEY ARE BEHIND ALL THIS NONSENSE.

  11. This Is Sad
    People Have Lost Their Livelihood.

    The Police Shud Investigate And Effect Arrest As Quick As Possible. The Police Shud Not Politicise This By Accusing Opposition Parties And Threatening To Arrest Chiefs And Accusing Them For Being Responsible. And Kampyongo Shud Issue A Minesterial Statement In Parliament Tomorrow. And Tell Us Wat Is Going To Happen Next Than Sitting Down Issuing Threats And No Arrests Being Made

  12. This event is just a giant False Flag, similar to the 9/11 event in the US which was carried out by the US government to justify the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq regardless of the fact that these two countries’ citizens were NOT involved in the attack.
    In this even, it is possible that the PF will blame UPND and declare a state of emergency. This move will lead to increased human rights violations and possibly genocide by the ruling party. All the indications for genocide are there for all to see:
    1. Preparations;
    2. Organization;
    3.Persecutions;
    etc.
    PF have formed Militias, and some are even in ZP uniforms. Their crimes are not punished by the law;
    PF have even equipped its militia with training and weapons;
    PF has been dismissing none PF members from employment in…

  13. Comment:I find it hard to come to terms with what some people are commenting and posting on social media over these cowardly acts. Are they in Zambia or Zambians for real?
    Most of you by your comments seem to know how is behind all this. I feel the police should visit you so that you can help with investigations. We can not have every Jim and Jack comment on every issue and not provide solutions to our mother Zambia. Not every issue is political.
    I feel Mr. Kaseba knows a lot more on who is behind these so called tensions and should come forward and help the police with more information. He has an obligation as a citizen of this country to help with the investigations. That is if he is a true Zambian.

  14. Comment:City Market was biult at a Great cost.The fire is Retrogressive and the source should be investigated by the Well meaning forces.

    It would be barbaric to point fingers at anyone at this moment

  15. Hmmm Dear Zambians. Just enough vents and anger. Yes i would call it dull & baseless venting. Yes businesses and people’s daily bread has been affected but that shouldn’t spell out on assumed cries or blames. Suppose lets say its a problem resulting from poor facilities management, or say as result of wrong choices in terms of selective use of fire rated building materials ..list goes on.
    What i expected to read from bloggers were intelligent and brilliant cries and questions. Its so sad. Anyway, such are wake up calls to value insurances.it s a good lesson to make us take note of important considerations as afar as infrastructure is concerned. We have become to cheap in decisions. Lets await for an engineering report from any specialist wing before we foul comment.

  16. Those zambia police officers and PFcarders should be answerable! Please let’s not even fail to find the clue to this fire because the place is guarded by both police and PF carders. Why should you blame innocent citizens when the culprits are known.( police and PF carders). It is as if a certain bank has theft, l don’t think it will be prudent to accuse their customers as the bank will deal with its members of staff accordingly. I mean the inspector general of Police and the PF secretary general should be the first suspects. Put them in the cells, they will give you proper
    answers. The problem that haunts us is that we do not believe that even those in power can plan evil to others reputation.

  17. I heard markets in zambia burn down often since independence. Not sure how strange this one is?

  18. lets be die hard to feed our families not for other people or religions Zambian this is in house terror dont destroy my zambia we all found it .sad zambian

  19. Wishing the affected families God’s strength during this untimely occurrence and as Zambian we need to pray for peace for our mother land as nothing is ok at all this very moment.

  20. fire that useless kanganja and team they are toothless **** they failed us in mongu and have brought this country to this impasse.

  21. Very sad and let the Police and Fire Brigade investigate this matter thoroughly. Listening to the many speakers yesterday, made me think that the Political Leaders were blaming some Political Party. This is very sad and speaks of many volumes of immaturity in how we are going to be dealing with matters. Here below is what I heard on ZNBC TV:-

    1. The Police IG confirmed to the Public that his men were patrolling the market throughout the night and he was kept abreast of what was happening;
    2. A Mr. Nyirenda, I think that was his name from LCM confirmed having been patrolling in the night with the Police and told the viewers that at 05.00 hours, the cleaners came and the Police opened for them. He went further to state that they were (obviously those around) surprised when soon…

  22. cntd! after the Police left, they saw smoke coming out of the market? What do those Policemen/women know? let them clear the air. If not, what do we start making of the Police Professionalism? Are we safe if things can be happening right under the nose of our homeland security?

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