Mon, 15 Jan 2018 10:31:59 +0000
THE conduct of traffic police officers has in numerous cases proved to be inconveniencing to motorists and the general public because of the wayward fashion they mount roadblocks.
At times, traffic officers mount road blocks dangerously on blind spots while in other instances, they literary lay an ambush in a manner that could cause accidents.
It is also evident in Lusaka, Copperbelt and other areas that officers would suddenly jump off their van and mount a check-point on a busy road, thereby causing congestion and the resultant delay to people going for work or business errands.
Such a spectre has sparked complaints from the public, but traffic police officers continue harassing people under the guise of enforcing the law.
On Friday, Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo was categorical when he stated that no road blocks in residential areas and issued instructions that the police must stop mounting unnecessary roadblocks. In addition, he warned that officers doing so would be punished.
Alas, officers have continued with this naked misconduct and usually their mission is not to protect the public, but to inconvenience motorists and eventually to coerce them into parting with their hard-earned cash which does not reach Government coffers.
Our survey of the roadblocks in Lusaka started from Garden where it created unnecessary traffic congestion. At Bwinjumfumu, there was another team of officers checking vehicles and a few meters from there at ZESCO headquarters, there was yet another team.
There were other teams dotted around town and within a small radius, one was subjected to no less than six road blocks. This could hardly be described as necessary or reasonable.
It is also clear that officers lack information as can be seen by the officer who did not even know that her own minister had given an order to stop unnecessary road blocks.
While some officers are courteous on the roads, other traffic officers are very rude to the extent of roughly dislodging keys from the ignition. They usually do so when challenged about the legality of their “temporary” check-points.
It is common that the traffic officers would threaten to lock up motorists who resist an unlawful check. Officers, knowing too well that there is no offence, would frivolously frame a motorist with misconduct.
In certain instances, they would ask a busy motorist to park on the roadside to intimidate or to make them desperate to the extent that they are forced into submission of parting away with money so that quickly they could catch up on the lost time.
Worse still, motorists who opt to challenge these officers up to the police station, would have to endure inordinate delay before they are attended to by senior officers. Even at the station, the motorist is disadvantaged because it is their word against an “arresting” officer.
It is such unreasonableness and arm-twisting tactics on the part of traffic officers that is not only inconveniencing to motorists but also an encumbrance to development because business is slowed down.
We appreciate that certain motorists may not cooperate even when they are at fault, but certainly some corrupt elements in the traffic section of the Zambia Police Service have been harassing law-abiding motorists without a tinge of shame. This is very evident!
This time around they have defied the minister with impunity.
We are also aware that Transport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba publicly denounced the illegal mounting of roadblocks by these traffic officers.
Thus Inspector-General of police Kakoma Kanganja should immediately take action against disobedient officers in this department which misfits want to turn into a money-spinner for their pockets.
Yes, traffic officers have a duty to detect crime, enforce the law and protect property as well as the public.
However, this should be done within the confines of the law for them to inspire the public and motorists in particular. We need a clean police traffic department.
Therefore, law enforcement officers must always be courteous to the public even in the face of adversity. They must at all times operate within designated check-points and also conduct road patrols in an orderly manner.
They must operate within the confines of the law at all times.
