Zambia Police take charge of markets’ security

THE Zambia Police has said it has taken charge of all stations in Lusaka after criminal minds claiming to be cadres intimidated drivers and commuters.

Zambia Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said they had moved in stations and cracked the whip on all the criminals who were masquerading as cadres.

She said that the police had been deployed in all the bus stations to bring to an end the lawlessness by the criminals who were getting money and intimidating people at stations.

Ms Katongo said that some criminal elements mostly at Intercity had gone on rampage attacking people as was evidenced by a video making rounds were an individual was attacked by people putting on UPND regalia.

“The thing is that we have moved in and trying to help the council collect revenue which was a bit difficult in the past since cadres moved in stations and were illegally getting money at these points,” she said.

She said the incoming government had given the police the mandate to work freely to ensure that sanity was restored in stations without fear of any external interference.

A check by the Daily Nation found police keeping vigil at Kulima Tower and Intercity where they apprehended anyone found on the wrong side of the law.

Ms Katongo said that so far the trouble makers had been fished out and that police would not relent until order was restored in stations.

Meanwhile cadres from Chibolya and Chawama traded blows on who dominates the stations which resulted in several individuals being injured.

But Ms Katongo said she had not received any information to that effect but that they would investigate and bring the culprits to book.

She said this however was not restricted to Lusaka alone but throughout the country.

And activist Rudolf Mwanza has thanked President-Elect Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND for removing cadres in the streets, bus stations and markets to allow the council workers to take up their duties.