The Batoka outrage

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 14:36:29 +0000

PEOPLE of Batoka in Choma must be kicking themselves for burning down a police post on Monday night over the petty issue of a man arrested by police for being found with an illegal, offensive weapon in a public place.

If police cannot intervene in a matter of lawlessness such as someone wielding a weapon publicly, which is a threat to public security and good order, then what are police for?

It would appear the residents of Batoka have decided that they do not need police protection. They will look after themselves and their property from now on. As far as they are concerned police are a nuisance and overbearing.

We are surprised that Choma Central Member of Parliament Cornelius Mweetwa has pleaded with the Southern Province police command not to withdraw police presence in Batoka, one of the areas in the region with high crime levels.

Where was Mr Mweetwa when his electorate were running amok, chasing the police from their charge office and setting it ablaze? The MP should have first condemned the rioters in the strongest terms, calling them a horde of unruly, undisciplined mob who must be arrested and face the law for riotous behaviour and arson.

It is such behaviour, laced by political overtones, that have made Southern Province appear unstable and a hotbed for political malcontents. The UPND as the party in majority in the region must always come out to condemn illegalities going on there before Zambians suspect they abet and aid excesses such as the one in Batoka.

We support Southern Province Police Commissioner Benny Kapeso for vowing that police will not return to Batoka until the people there ‘‘come to their senses’’. We understand the police chief’s anger.

In this day and age when money is so hard to come by, replacing a police station which has been looted and destroyed by a mob must be the last item on the agenda of Government.

Mr Kapeso must feel sorry for hundreds of those innocent residents who had nothing to do with the burning of the police station who must now suffer the consequences of a foolish few who took the law in their hands just to embarrass Government.

Residents of Batoka and many other people in different parts of the country who resort to destroying public property whenever they are displeased by something must listen to the wise counsel of Chief Chipepo of Siavonga who has unequivocally condemned the Batoka incident.

Chief Chipepo says burning police stations or any Government property was not the best way for anyone to air their grievances and people must always allow the police do their job.

The work of the police is not easy. They are on duty 24/7, operate under difficult conditions, in most cases have no transport and yet they are called upon to answer emergencies in far-flung areas where their presence often makes the difference between life and death.

They are seriously under-staffed and over-worked. One of their biggest challenges is accommodation and office space. In many places they work in a metal container, come rain or sunshine. They are found even seated and dispensing justice under a tree.

For anyone to burn a police post is being not only senseless and criminal but extremely ungrateful. Police deserve sympathy, respect and kudos for doing a thankless job to the best of their ability.

Until the rascals of Batoka are made to sweat for the folly of their stupidity, they will not learn anything. Let criminals take charge of the community for a while, then they will realise the importance of police presence.

Thereafter they must rebuild the police post, equip it with furniture and other necessities and go to kneel before Commissioner Kapeso to plead for police officers to be redeployed to Batoka.

We are certain he has something to say to them.