A taxi driver in Ndola has been arrested after allegedly assaulting a traffic police officer following a road traffic offence.
The suspect, Charles Zulu, aged 23 of Pamodzi Township, is accused of assaulting Sergeant Charles Mandefu on Wednesday afternoon along Kalewa Road.
According to police, the incident occurred when Sergeant Mandefu and other officers were conducting routine patrols and observed that Zulu had parked his vehicle in the middle of the road, obstructing traffic.
The officer approached the driver and charged him with obstruction of the roadway, an impoundable offence under Section 188 of the Roads and Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002.
At the time, Zulu was driving a Honda Fit, registration number BBE 3944, and had an elderly female passenger on board. Police say the officer allowed him to first drop off the passenger before proceeding to the police station.
Police spokesperson Godfrey Chilabi said Sergeant Mandefu boarded the vehicle and instructed the driver to head to the police station.
“However, the elderly passenger requested to be dropped off at Kawama Township first, a request the officer granted,” Mr Chilabi said.
After dropping off the passenger, the driver allegedly refused to comply with the instruction to proceed to the police station and instead assaulted the officer.
Following the incident, police launched investigations which led to the apprehension of Zulu. He is currently in police custody and is expected to appear in court soon.
Whilst Assaulting a traffic officer is by no means right and should normally be condemned show how one must show some sympathy for the driver as these officers are rediculous at times whilst they leave their own buses alone and vivitimise others with petty offences not even listed
Why are so many Zambian road infringements classified as impoundable offences?
This puts too much power in corrupt police officers’ hands therefore opening a wide door to bribes.
A police officer who knows citizens don’t want their vehicles impounded will threaten to do so so as to invite an offer of a bribe.
Whenever I drive on Zambian roads with my foreign numberplates I notice the cops going out of their way to try and impound my vehicle.
Lawmakers should look at this and change legal operations accordingly.
Police and the community