NO PAYING TRAFFIC FINES AT ROAD BLOCKS

By LINDA SOKO TEMBO TRAFFIC police are reportedly making franctic effots to make money while the sun shines as PAYING traffic fines at police road blocks will soon be a thing of the past.

This is after the Zambia Police opened three bank accounts for traffic offenders to pay fines.

The new system which will be implemented in selected towns for now as a pilot project, will help minimise incessant corruption allegations against the police and prevent unnecessary inconveniences for motorists.

In an interview with the Daily Nation, Zambia Police spokesperson Esther Katongo explained that the police had come up with the new system to enhance transparency

and accountability in the way money from fines was handled.

She said Zambia Police were working with Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO), Indo Zambia Bank and Investrust Bank where the accounts had been opened.

“We have linked police stations to the banks which are nearby for all the paying services that the public may need,” she said.

Ms. Katongo said that the new system was not only meant for traffic offenders but for other services that required payments.

Ms. Katongo explained that new system, which was in its pilot phase, started operating on December I and that it would end this month end.

She said depending on how the system was going to work, it would be rolled out to different parts of the country and that the public would be informed on the new decision.

Ms Katongo made it clear that from next January, no police officer would be allowed to receive money in all the areas were the pilot project was operational.

“Among other places were the new system is operational are Woodlands police who are using ZANACO, Chelstone police ZANACO, Kafue Estate Police ZANACO, Siavonga Police ZANACO, Chirundu Police ZANACO, Chawama police Investrust Bank, Lusaka Central Police Investrust, Kafue Police Indo Zambia Bank, Chilanga Police and Chilanga Interpol Indo Zambia Bank,” she said.

She explained that currently, the new system was operating parallel with the old system.

“This means that we are still using the old system and the new system in these areas where we are piloting by first January we will longer be allowing police officers to be receiving money,” she said .