Zambia Police enhance media collaborations

Zambia Police Service has called for enhanced collaboration with the media, in order to provide an environment that supports the duo to conduct their operations professionally, as the country heads to the polls, in August this year.

Zambia Police Public Relations Officer, Godfrey Chilabi says that the police have put in place measures aimed at ensuring that media personnel are protected and guided as they cover various events nationwide.

He said that his institution is ready to create programmes that are aimed at enhancing the understanding of police operations, for journalists that report on crime, public order and other related matters.

Mr Chilabi said that the police consider the media as key stakeholders, and has since called on them to enhance their identity, in order to avoid being inconvenienced as they cover state related events.

“In our deployment orders, we will be making sure that we have officers that are specifically taking care of the media,” he said.

He also stressed on the need for the media to specialize in fields such as crime reporting in order to promote in-depth understanding of the field and reporter safety.

Meanwhile, Lusaka Press Club President, Edward Makayi, commended the police on their recent conduct at the Drug Enforcement Commission offices where they faced confrontation from the public.

Mr Makayi said that his organisation is committed to putting up programmes that will empower journalists with best practices, while supporting their health.

He called on the police to consider employing practicing journalists during their recruitment process, in order to ensure continuity of professionalism in the police service.