By Isaac Zulu
The removal of state police from Luanshimba check checkpoint is as a result of corrupt practices that junior police officers were engaging in, sources have disclosed.
Four days ago the Police Command removed state police officers from Luanshimba check point, which is situated between Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi districts, without giving any reason.
But sources close to operations at the said designated check point have revealed that police officers that were being deployed to man the Luanshimba check checkpoint between Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi used to solicit for some bribes from truckers and other motorists with a view to facilitate easy passage at the facility.
“Some junior police officers that were being deployed to Luanshimba check point were engaging in corrupt practices. They used to solicit for bribes from truck drivers and other motorists. This information reached their superiors who did not take this lightly because the scourge was tarnishing the image of the Zambia Police. The junior officers were destroying the reputation of the Police. So the Police Command found it prudent to remove state police from Luanshimba check point,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
The source further disclosed that the same junior police officers used to interfere in the operations of revenue collectors from the local authorities.
“It is only the council revenue collectors, with the help of the council police, who are mandated to collect levies at the checkpoint and issue a receipt to truckers. But these junior police officers were overstepping their boundaries and would collect levies without the knowledge of council revenue collectors. They were interfering in the operations of their colleagues. And this was frustrating to the revenue collectors and council police,” said the source.
And when reached for a comment Central Province Police Commissioner Roy Kashimba said that the removal of state police from a checkpoint is a normal practice in the operations of the Zambia Police Service, adding that there is nothing sinister about what the Police Command has done.
“That is a normal practice in the operations of the Zambia Police. There’s nothing sinister about it,” said Kashimba.
And when contacted for a comment Zambia Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga explained that the Police have just changed their policing strategy so that they become more mobile, as opposed to being stationed at one place.
“As you are aware we recently received some vehicles to enable us to be mobile in the execution of our duties. Subsequently, we have changed our policing strategy so that they can be more mobile; hence the removal of the state police that you are referring to,” said Hamoonga.
