Mapalo Police post upgrade starts

GOVERNMENT has started upgrading Mapalo Police post into a police station at cost of K300, 000 under the Constituency Development Fund.

Ndola Central Member of Parliament Emmanuel Mulenga, who is also Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development, said the move was aimed at meeting the demand for the over 60, 000 population of Mapalo alone.

Speaking in an interview after the ground breaking of the police station, Mr Mulenga said the area had a limited number of officers.

He said the Mapalo Police Post currently had 12 officers who serviced more than 60, 000 people as well as those in neighbouring constituencies such as Bwanamukubwa.

Mr Mulenga said the 12 officers divided themselves in shifts of four in the day and only two in the night which was not adequate to combat crime in the area.

He said the police station would accommodate 60 police officers so that the post could subsequently be upgraded into a police station.

Mr Mulenga said the new blocks under construction would include two holding cells and office spaces.

He said once the police post was upgraded into a police station, it would consist of four separate cells for juvenile boys, girls, and the other two for men and women.

He also stated that the construction was being done by the community who had volunteered their time and labour.

The minister said the project was expected to be completed in not more than 90 days.

And residents in the area have hailed government for the initiative, stating that crime was rampant in the area.

The residents said due to the limited number of personnel, the presence of the police was not felt.