Police system needs overhaul
By SIMON MUNTEMBA
THE current Zambia Police Service needs urgent overhaul because in its current form, it is a letdown, Golden Party of Zambia (GPZ) president, Jackson Silavwe, has said.
Mr Silavwe said the overhaul of the system had to be deliberate to ensure that police officers were specifically trained to deal with policing in communities.
He explained that the recent waves of criminal activities across the country was a clear sign that the Zambia Police needed urgent reforms to effectively police the communities.
“Quality-of-life crimes such as criminal gangs, disorderly conduct, vagrancy, drug dealing, prostitution, car parts thefts, and public nuisance are spiraling out of control in our cities,” Mr Silavwe complained.
Mr Silavwe said most Zambians were not feeling safe or adequately protected by police officers, because their presence in our communities in as far as crime prevention and fighting is concerned, was very weak.
As Golden Party of Zambia, he said, we emphatically repeat our call to President Hichilema and the police command to reform the Zambia Police Service.
He suggested that among other reforms, the President and police command should consider creating a separate constitutional premier investigation agency to assist in handling major workloads such as terrorism, economic crimes, organized crime and murder. Mr Silavwe said there was also need for Government to consider the creation of an Independent Police Directorate that would specifically investigate corruption, malpractices and general misconduct within the Zambia Police Service.
“Disband or reduce the Zambia Police Department and redeploy the man power to crucial arms and legs functions in the communities,” he added.
Mr Silavwe further said modernization of the entire police service to prevent and solve crimes that impeded on the quality-of-life of the citizens, as well as the recruitment of officers to be done by an independent authority, was needed.
He said the police service must move from its current colonial form to a professional, efficient and robust institution that was responsive to the needs in communities.
