POLICE INERTIA
IT is clear to all that the Zambia Police Service is a big letdown to the nation. Police inertia is simply frightening.
When everyone thought there would be renewed vigour in the manner the Police carried out their operations, nothing of the sort has happened.
The coming in of the new dawm administration under the United Party for National Development which promised a professional Police Service anchored on the rule of law appears to have been an illusion.
President Hakainde Hichilema “freed” the police from political influence in their operations immediately he was declared winner of the August 12 elections.
But the nation has seen the Police fail to live up to expectations in the manner lawlessness has been allowed to continue ostensibly because it involves UPND cadres.
Just what has made it difficult for InspectorGeneral of Police Lemmy Kajoba to carry out his mandate and stop political hooliganism being perpetrated by UPND cadres?
It is in this vein that we agree with UPND spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa who has expressed his disappointment that the country is still witnessing political violence.
He should be worried because the Patriotic Front government was voted out because of the political violence perpetrated by its cadres which became unbearable.
The nation has witnessed numerous acts bordering on lawlessness committed by UPND cadres and police appear to be watching from the fence.
Mr Mweetwa’s frustration with police operations stems from the weekend incident in Lusaka’s Mandevu Constituency in which the PF Member of Parliament, Mr Christopher Shakafuswa and his wife were attacked by UPND cadres.
It is unacceptable that an elected MP should be treated to such thuggish behaviour in a democracy and the law enforcement wings do not make any arrest.
Mr Mweetwa rightly said the rule of law should be applied so that justice prevails and anyone that will be found wanting should face the law accordingly.
He said regardless of who is involved, the law should be applied equally because Zambia has laws of the land which should be respected.
“When an offence is committed, relevant authorities are expected to take up their mandate and ensure that the rule of law is applied. Therefore, whoever is behind this violence should face the law accordingly,” said Mr Mweetwa.
This is what we find strange and there are a few examples.
Police are yet to inform the nation if they have made any arrest with the fracas that happened at a privately-owned radio station in Mpika last Friday when UPND cadres invaded the radio station and disrupted a live programme featuring the PF Member of Parliament.
As though this was not enough, another bunch of UPND cadres broke down a fence at a privatelyowned mine on the Copperbelt last week and took over operations illegally for almost 24 hours before they were removed.
In this incident, police were actually on guard and surprisingly made no arrests.
Meanwhile, Police have been able to retrieve cases from the archives involving some officials from the old regime.
This makes the public question whether the Police Service is indeed operating in a professional manner free from a hidden political hand.
Mr Kajoba should realise that people are not fooled by rhetoric but by action on the ground. Police must up their game if they hope to win people’s confidence.