Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:45:40 +0000
By Kalobwe Bwalya
POLICE will not rest until they arrest the criminals that killed two police officers during an exchange of gun fire in Ndola on Tuesday, says Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo.
Mr Kampyongo has since appealed to all uniformed officers across the country to help each other when executing national duty so that criminal elements do not become “victors “ because police officers are there to protect the nation .
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Kampyongo said, the command will not let police officers die at the hands of criminals, but will ensure that people’s properties were protected and warned that those involved would be brought to book.
Mr Kampyongo said despite the challenges that the police were facing, they should not be underrated because they were capable of delivering, and therefore Government will ensure that they were supported.
“We are very sad following the killing of two gallant detective sergeants, Ben Chilubula and Francis Kaunda who died during the call of duty.
As a command will not sit and watch criminals killing innocent people, and Government will continue supporting the noble call the officers have been rendering by ensuring that they are supported with the required logistics as well as moral support and their lives will not go in vain,” said Mr Kampyongo.
Meanwhile, Mr Kampyongo said Government has sourced K18, 000,000 to pay officers who participated in Phase 3 of the Issuance of National Registration Cards in the run-up to the 2016 general elections.
Mr Kampyongo said, due to budgetary constraints, his ministry was unable to meet the cost of paying outstanding allowances for 60 days to the officers who participated in the exercise, therefore only 30 days would be paid and the remaining 30 days would be paid later.
He said the department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship shall therefore immediately begin making arrangement to pay the allowances.
“My ministry has set aside funds to pay officers who participated in this phase 3 for a total of 30 days owned to them and Government is committed to pay the remaining 30 days we still owe out handwork king officers as soon as fuds are set aside for this purpose,” said Mr Kampyongo
