Mon, 27 Mar 2017 10:32:51 +0000
By Andrew Mukoma
ZAMBIA police officers at Kazungula Border Post involved in the smuggling of fuel and other goods shall be punished, Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo has warned.
Last month the Daily Nation uncovered multiple cases of smuggling and corruption involving staff from ESCO, the company that operates the pontoons at the border, Zambia Police officers and customs officers.
The officers have been working together with civilians to smuggle fuel in large quantities from Botswana into Zambia using the pontoons.
In response to the revelations, Mr Kampyongo said “much as the officers are human beings, the ministry will put measures to ensure those involved are moved out”.
“Yes, I am aware of that issue at Kazungula border and I am glad you have brought it out…but I want to say that you the media have a responsibility to expose such issues,” he said.
Mr Kampyongo charged that the illegality at Kazungula border needs to be curtailed by punishing those involved.
“I will be requesting the Police Commissioner for Southern Province, Mr Bonny Kapeso to take note of that and ensure that it comes to an end,” he said. The minister warned that greed needed to be wiped out from the police, adding that the ministry would move in and ensure the issue was addressed.
“Such behaviour will not be tolerated and we’ll take every possible measure to ensure officers involved face appropriate punishment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Kampyongo has called for the enhancement of community police in Livingstone to reduce on the rising cases of robberies which the tourist capital has experienced in the last few months.
He said that the police could not be everywhere all the time but communities must be proactive and work together and bring down the offenders.
