Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations Bonnie Kapeso has directed all police officers in the country to grant all political players equal opportunities and space to engage the electorates in selling their party programs and manifesto.
And UPND Deputy National Youth Chairman Gilbert Liswaniso has attributed the escalating levels of violence in the country to Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo who is cited in the report of the Commission of Inquiry on political violence and voting pattern in Zambia.
Mr. Kapeso says political parties should be accorded an opportunity to convince Zambians that it was the right and most favorable political institution to drive the country’s economic and social agenda forward without any undue pressure and influence.
Mr Kapeso who was speaking when he met a delegation from the United Party for National Development led by its Deputy National Youth Chairman Gilbert Liswaniso in Lusaka expressed sadness at the amount of hurt and scorn directed at his officers by political cadres across the divide and warned that his officers will not condone such behavior.
“Zambia Police is in charge of everything. Whether it is UPND, NDC or PF cadres, we as the Police demand respect because we are in charge. That one I shouldn’t even mince my words about it. We demand respect because we have had enough of confrontations from you political cadres. You insult and say all kinds of words against us. Yes, that is the job but allow us to do the job that we chose to do in the manner we feel it fit. At the end of the day, we must ensure that the people we are dealing with are respected as well”, Mr. Kapeso told the meeting which included Lusaka Provincial Police Commissioner Nelson Phiri.
He has since urged his officers across the country to remain exemplary and professional as God will judge their performance based on their professionalism to duty and called on political players to cooperate with his office in showing the world that Zambia is owned by mature and responsible Zambians with a full conscience that the country needs protection from everyone.
Mr. Kapeso further assured the UPND that no bone will be broken provided people operate within the confines of the law as he prayed that the current cordial momentum is maintained towards 2021 national elections.
And Gilbert Liswaniso urged Mr Kapeso to ensure that all political players are treated equally as failure to do so will lead to the anarchy that the party is hoping against but might have no control should the membership continue to feel segregated by the service.
Mr. Liswaniso said the police top brass which include the Inspector General, Kakoma Kanganja and the ten provincial police commissioners have been a letdown in the impartial maintenance of law and order in the country and cited recent developments on the Copperbelt where UPND members were arrested for merely participating in intra-party elections which are a constitutional requirement.
“My appeal to you bwana deputy I. G is that please talk to your Commissioner for Northern Province, Mweene and Deputy Commissioner Western Province Chipasha. All illegalities in the Northern province have the blessings or the police commissioner and we don’t want problems. Talk to them because they are in the forefront creating problems for our members. Why should our members be arrested for merely following a constitutional requirement? We don’t need to beg your office for us to perform a constitutional requirement. The only thing I can beg you in the police service is to vote for the UPND that’s all. The rest lie within my rights which should be respected”, he added.
What cheek. Who is Kapesa to tell The Police what to do, does he know who’s ruling, we know where you belong.
A man who is sensing the blowing wind of change and knows which side of is bread is buttered….. we have seen this before. We see new comers excited about by elections
In July 2015, there was a parliamentary By Election in Mulobezi district .
These were the results ;
PF : 3531 ( 51.5%)
UPND : 3335 (48.5%)
Exactly 13 month later we had the 2016 General Elections.
These were the results;
UPND: 7352 (78%)
PF: 2058 (21%)
A man who is sensing the blowing wind of change and knows which side of is bread is buttered….. we have seen this before. We see new comers excited about by elections
In July 2015, there was a parliamentary By Election in Mulobezi district .
These were the results ;
PF : 3531 ( 51.5%)
UPND : 3335 (48.5%)
Exactly 13 month later we had the 2016 General Elections.
These were the results;
UPND: 7352 (78%)
PF: 2058 (21%)
A man who is sensing the blowing wind of change and knows which side of is bread is buttered….. we have seen this before. We see new comers excited about by elections
In July 2015, there was a parliamentary By Election in Mulobezi district .
These were the results ;
PF : 3531 ( 51.5%)
UPND : 3335 (48.5%)
Exactly 13 month later we had the 2016 General Elections.
These were the results;
UPND: 7352 (78%)
PF: 2058 (21%)
This is how Kakoma Kanganja should have been coming out but unfortunately, it has to take his deputy to send the correct message. How I wish the IG can be replaced by his DIG! We should all be worried living in a country where criminals masquerading themselves as cadres start daring our men and women in uniform! If we allow this nonsense to continue, we’ll all be victims of violence! Please continue your good work Bwana DIG! You are such a breath of fresh air!
Pictures coming of Lusaka are disturbing.
We thought UPND were more civilized to wear masks at all times, alas, they are typical Zambians. UPND may start dying of covid, and that’s the worse betrayal to Zambians.
The Zambia Police is for all of us, even those not in politics. The Police has performed very poorly under Steven Kapolyo “Helicopter crasher” Kampyongo and Kakoma Kanganja. They need to improve their performance. Our officers are among the best on the continent. Those that have seconded to AU and UN agencies have excelled. So Police failure is due to poor leadership by Kampyongo. If they put a sober and mature Minister things will change. So well done Kapeso
Whilst you are at it, can you please remove all the traffic police roadblocks all over the place harassing and victimising innocent people. Please please we are begging you. They are of no help in controlling traffic but are actually creating traffic by putting up this unnecessary road blocks. Motorists are suffering at the hands of these.
And some one will blame pf and yet the police are independent and do as they think fit. I echo kapeso sentiments..please we want order during elections so that the cry baby upnd do not find an excuse to petition their loss. We are tired of these sore losers
PF and lungu can not win any free and fair election.
Violence , use of grz resources, bribing , banning others campaigning is what makes them claim they are winning ….
Please don’t add him to the truth commission which will be set up after 2021 to deal with the incorrigible guys, I think he is a good guy. The list is growing including the ones who were stoning opposition helicopters during elections in Shiwang’andu who are still at large including the one who was giving them instructions to bring a helicopter down with human beings on board
I hope the issue of cadres calling themselves commander and putting on military style fatigue was one the issues raised.
I like this Kapeso guy. I hope he is not retired in national interest soon for some trumped up fuzzy accusation. Watch the space.
Bonnie Kapeso is a reincarnation of Wasakaza Ng’uni. No nonsense police officers who play by the rule book. I hope he lives long enough to become the best IG in Zambia. It looks like Kanganja has been compromised with gifts.
Edit headline, urging and directing are two different things
If we had this man for an IG of Police, this nonsense of political violence would have long been a thing of the past.
Kapeso you are the man of the moment! I hope what you are saying will be implemented. I salute you Kapeso.. If 90% of the police service could think, talk and act like you, Vespers, Mapenzi Chibulo, Lawrence Banda and others would still be alive.
If 90% of the police officers think, talk and act like Bonny Kapeso, all cadres/supporters from the opposition would not have lost their lives in the last 5 years. Kapeso is the man of the moment! It is my fervent prayer that what Kapeso has said will be implemented
There goes ”Bone Crusher”! why can’t the Kapseo gentleman be made IG now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bonnie Kapeso must have been misquoted. If he said this then the PF Govt will fire him becoz he must know that PF believes in the selective application of law. We shall see if Bonnie Kapeso is telling the truth.
The deputy Inspector general of Police Bonny Kapeso is spot on. That’s how professional police come out to the general public, it inspires confidence of impartiality in a nation in as far as policing is concerned. Bwana Kapeso should not be intimidated as we have recently witnessed where law enforcement officers are harassed and beaten up by civilians for doing their work. In particular threats issued by PF cadre Kamba warning Lusaka police command to be dealt with in the J J Banda saga who with his fellow PF cadres beat up police officers. Be firm 2nd IG, we have one Zambia for all of us.
Pray that Kapeso does not end with “retired in national interest” which is often used on those of senior ranks when they lose favor with the appointing authority! Kapeso is right in urging professionalism among officers and for reasoning with those that called on him for mutual respect and need to obeying the law as political players engage with the electorate. That service officers at the helm of service institutions are appointed by state house is what has led to mediocre performance! However police have to work hard at restoring image and public trust!
Kapeso is upnd no doubt about and let just join politics together with arcbishop Mpundu.Dont hide come out open declare your interest.
The UPND Liswaniso tried to twist the deputy I.G into siding with his political rhetoric, but the upstanding officer and man of God kept it professional and spoke legibly and intelligently. This is what is needed in the ruling party and opposition. Normal people; we know that is a rare trait in that arena.
This is the only senior police officer who talks sense. I wonder why fools had to be on top of him.