Sun, 05 Mar 2017 09:51:40 +0000
By KALOBWE BWALYA
THE disciplinary record of the Zambia Police Service is unsatisfactory and Government will not hesitate to deal with erring officers, says Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo.
Mr Kampyongo said it was the duty of the command to cleanse the Police Service of all those who were not capable of upholding the law, the corrupt and indisciplined men and women.
Speaking at the commemoration of Zambia Police Day under the theme “Enhancing professionalism and accountability to provide a safe, secure and peaceful environment for all”, in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Kampyongo said Government demanded and expected high standards of discipline and high levels of personnel discipline among the officers because law enforcement demanded honesty and integrity.
“Inspector General of police and the command, the disciplinary record of the Zambia police service is currently unsatisfactory. Therefore, there is need to return to the basics,” said Mr Kampyongo.
He said observance of strict individual and collective discipline was cardinal in any police service and cautioned against involvement in partisan politics, harassment of members of the public, corruption and poor hygiene and cleanliness especially in police camps.
Mr Kampyongo said Government was committed to rebuild and modernise the Zambia Police Service by supporting them, hence members of the public should instead continue striving to serve their country better with honour and integrity.
He said levels of discipline in the service must move closer to the records set by the previous commands. Therefore, 2017 must be dedicated to revamping the police by returning to the basics and traditions of policing.
“While the few indisciplined officers continue to dent the good name and image of the Zambia police. We have a number of officers who have been exemplary and performed beyond the call of duty that must be recognised,” he said.
And Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja said it was a police mandate to maintain law and order across the country and that they could not achieve the mission if they worked in isolation from the community they served.
Mr Kanganja urged the officers to continue exhibiting good morals, diligence and patriotism in their execution of duty.
