That police night operation in Matero’s Paradise area

Dear Editor,

If it was our Zambia Army that had carried out that night operation in Matero’s Paradise area last week, I would have spent the whole of this week crying because I would have then known that the nation’s security was dangerously compromised.

But thank the Lord it was our same low performing police who displayed the most stupid operation I have ever seen in my life.

Even my wife with her humble education failed to see the logic behind the presence of those heavily armed police officers who ever carried the media in the hope of catching ritual killers in that fashion.

I totally agreed with her. Surely ba police how can you come to your target area blazing your heavy weapons all the way perhaps to warn your enemy about your presence?

In my humble opinion the best people you should have employed are CID officers.

These officers could have even rented a house in the area and deliberately become careless to lure the enemy into their hands. It is that simple. You would have your ritual killers in double quick time.

I bet the ritual killers must have had a big laugh in bars drinking in Mtendere and other far off areas when they saw those heavily armed police officers displaying their aimless weapons.

That was 100 per cent botched up operation which should not be repeated because it totally lacked professionalism.

Okay may be the police succeeded in scaring away the killers, but have they won the battle against the delinquents?

The big answer is NO, because that was not the purpose of the operation. It was meant to catch the killers but they came out of it with zero.

I now fully understand why we have one of the worst performing police in the world because what happened in Matero should not have taken place at all if we had a highly trained and professional police. I now wish to request our police IG Mr Kakoma Kanganja to redesign his police command and bring in men and women who can produce results.

Of course after being named the worst police, efforts should start now to move away from tag through a wholesome reorganisation of the entire service.

With determination, our police can change and become one of the best in the world, but that will require a lot of effort, planning, determination and re-organisation.

Perhaps they should consult their counterparts in neighbouring Botswana and learn one or two things about police operations.

Josiah Soko, Salima Road, Matero