‘NO COMPROMISE’

INSPECTOR General of Police Lemmy Kajoba has done well to state in no uncertain terms that police will not take instructions from political functionaries in carrying out their mandate.

But it will take more than mere verbal assurances to regain the public’s confidence that it will live up to what is expected of it from the public – operate in a professional manner.

Mr Kajoba has maintained that the Police Service will not consult any political party when discharging its constitutional mandate of maintaining law and order in the country, Mr Kajoba said the roles of the police were clear and constitutionally defined and that the police service will and shall effect an arrest whenever an offence was committed without considering the political status of the suspects.

It is easier said than done.

The Zambia Police Service has over the years allowed itself to be regarded as a branch of the political party in power.

This has resulted in the security wing losing credibility in the eyes of the public.

People expected to see an improvement in the operations of the Police Service under the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) after the August 2021 tripartite elections when it campaigned on a platform of restoring law and order in the nation.

This was against a backdrop that law and order had broken down under the Patriotic Front which seemingly allowed its cadres to do as they pleased, with the police watching helplessly.

PF cadres took advantage of their party being in government to break the law with impunity, something that the UPND exploited to the full.

But whereas the public had high expectations from the police after the political change of guard, these were quickly dashed as police turned a blind eye to rowdy UPND cadres invading private businesses – mining firms – and even some radio stations.

And recent utterances by some officials of the UPND, particularly its youth wing suggest that they do not want a professional police service.

UPND national youth chairman, Gilbert Liswaniso recently said the police should be consulting the ruling party when handling political matters, including arrests.

Mr Liswaniso made the statement when he featured at Sunday Interview of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.

Clearly, what Mr Liswaniso meant was that the police should be wary of which party was in power and therefore allow its members free rein to do as they pleased even at the expense of breaking the law.

We are glad however that Mr Liswaniso has openly stated that those who intended to commit offences or crimes in the name of political parties should be ready to face the consequences of their actions.

Mr Kajoba said the law had no face and that those who shall commit offences in the name of their political parties should know that the police had the mandate to protect property, lives and to maintain law and order.

We therefore challenge Mr Kajoba to rein in the UPND cadres in Mwinilunga who have formed militia ostensibly to “fix” those allegedly insulting President Hakainde Hichilema.