Patson Chilemba
The police service has responded to assertions of greed and corruption made against heads in the police service by junior officers, challenging them to report the senior officers they have accused of being corrupt to the ACC.
Junior ranked police officers are protesting what they describe as greed and abuse by senior officials in the service, whom they say added themselves to the list of officers coming from outside the city in order to pay themselves K6020 allowances per person.
Police officers who spoke to Daily Revelation on condition of anonymity fearing reprisals from their superiors said officers who were called from outside Lusaka during the recent AU summit were paid K6020 each and that some senior officials in Lusaka were included on the list of those coming from outside the city in order to be paid the same amount, but for those based in Lusaka there were discussions to only give pay them K1250 for the six days they worked, including working over time.
Contacted for comment on the assertions raised by the officers of corruption, police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said: “When you have already run the story you are still calling me? To come and talk what?”
But put to him that whether the story had been published or not, police’s position over the matter is important, Hamoonga said: “Argh! We do not discuss issues of conditions of service of police in the media. And the media will never be our mode of communicating to our officers on issues relating to conditions of service. If an officer has a query with anything to do with condition of service he can follow the laid down procedure.”
But asked if he agreed that the assertions raised were not putting the police in good light as an institution that should uphold the highest standards and was also responsible for prosecuting offences including corruption, Hamoonga said: “I don’t agree with you what you are telling me. I don’t agree with you (on) anything.”
Asked repeatedly that the assertions were not putting the service in positive light as “it is your own officers raising assertions of corruption against their own police service”, Hamoonga remained combative.
“Corruption is dealt by the Anti-Corruption Commission. The media will never solve the issues of corruption. No! They can report even they have any report they can go and report. Since they have the names let them go and report to the ACC. That’s why the Anti-Corruption is there,” said Hamoonga. “So there is nothing like you the media trying to tell us what to tell our officers. No! If any officer has a problem with his condition of service he’s got the right to follow the right channel of communication. We do not solve our issues through the media. No!”
But put to him that the officers were raising assertions that police heads who were not supposed to be on the list of those receiving K6020 each meant for those coming outside the city, had been included on the list despite being based in Lusaka, Hamoonga said: “That’s what I am saying. That’s what I am saying. If there is anything to do with corruption, let them go and report to the Anti-Corruption Commission.”
