IG targets Kitwe gangs

Mr Kanganja is in Ndola yesterday that so far the men and women in uniforms had managed to “cage” gang members who were mostly youths in Kitwe.

He said he had decided to travel to the Copperbelt to conduct security checks in the light of reports concerning the mushrooming gang-related crimes.

Speaking during a courtesy call on the Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe, Mr Kanganja said the gangs had caused a lot of terror on the Copperbelt, hence, he had decided to get on the ground himself.

“We are aware that there have been challenges on the ground but our security team is also equal to the task. So far we have caged a number of these gang members from various groups known as the Tokota boys, 90 Niggas, sons of the devil, 100 gang and Spark to mention but a few,” he said.

Mr Kanganja said he also wanted to interact with his officers on matters related to discipline, professionalism, integrity and their welfare to appreciate their challenges. His office, he said, intended to reduce audit queries by ensuring that all payments were made through the bank, among other measures.

He said the issue of members of the public depositing money in the banks would overcome the mishandling of cash and reduce corrupt practices.

Mr Kanganja noted that the system was already in place in Lusaka and would spread to the Copperbelt, Central and Southern Provinces by next month.

Meanwhile, Mr Nundwe noted that the pattern of violence in Kitwe was not pleasing.

Mr Nundwe urged the IG to beef up security in order to restore sanity to Kitwe because every single life was precious.

He said he wanted to see adequate security measures all over the Copperbelt and not just in Kitwe.

Mr Nundwe said he also wanted to see change in the attitude of the officers as they were the least people to be involved in illegal activities.

He therefore, implored the IG to reshuffle staff so that officers did not get too familiar in a place to curb vices.