Sat, 24 Jun 2017 11:36:09 +0000
…as MPs call for disbanding of traffic department to curb rampant corruption
By OSCAR MALIPENGA
THE Zambia Police Service is the most corrupt institution among the law enforcement agencies, Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs has disclosed.
And Mafinga Patriotic Front (PF) member of Parliament Jacob Siwale has appealed to the State through Speaker Dr. Patrick Matibini to consider disbanding the Road Traffic department of the Zambia Police Service because it was too filthy with corruption.
Meanwhile, Parliament has adopted a report of the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs which has recommended that government should reduce contact between the offenders and the law enforcing agencies that collects fees and fines by making the payments at the bank or electronically in order to reduce corruption.
National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, who is also former inspector general of police, Dr. Martin Malama yesterday moved a motion to have the report adopted by Parliament.
Seconding the motion, Lundazi Central independent member of Parliament Lawrence Nyirenda complained that during submissions stakeholders submitted that the Zambia Police Service was too corrupt.
Mr. Nyirenda said because the Zambia Police Service was too corrupt, he recommended on the floor of the House that police officers should be rotated in their discharge of duties per department to avoid corruption tendencies.
Contributing to the motion, Mr. Siwale narrated on the floor of the House how police officers traffic at Luangwa Bridge charge motorists an amount of K70 per vehicle without issuing receipts.
He said for a vehicle which crossed the bridge twice was made to pay K140 per day by police officers manning the bridge.
Mr. Siwale said because of traffic police officers were too corrupt he recommended that the department of traffic be disbanded and that the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) must immediately take over the operations because they had integrity.
“Mr. Speaker, allow me to recommend that the police traffic department be disbanded and replaced with RTSA because the agency has some integrity,” Mr. Siwale submitted.
And Lunte Patriotic Front (PF) member of Parliament Mutotwe Kafwaya complained in his debate that there was no prudency in application of resources by the Zambia Police Service.
He gave an example of carelessness by the Zambia Police in the manner in which they were utilizing motor vehicles.
Presenting a report on the floor of the House, Dr. Malama recommended that government should revise the establishment of various law enforcement agencies and recruit officers to make the staff strength commensurate with population growth and operational demands.
“Mr. Speaker the other challenge faced by law enforcement agencies is inadequate funding. Government should improve on the budgetary allocation to the ministry of Home Affairs and the law enforcement agencies and ensure that the funds so allocated are released in good time,” he said.
Dr. Malama observed that the correctional centres in Zambia were constructed for a very small inmate population, adding that they had been outgrown by the population and crime rate resulting in heavy congestion.
