KEEP OFF POLITICS, CIVIL SERVANTS TOLD

Fri, 25 Aug 2017 12:37:21 +0000

By Simon Muntemba

I WILL not hesitate to take punitive measures against civil servants who are engaging in partisan politics, Petauke District Commissioner, Velenasi Banda has warned.

Ms. Banda cautioned public service workers in against engaging in active politics.

She reiterated that there would be no retribution for civil servants engaging in partisan politics. Ms. Banda said civil servants who want to participate in politics should resign because they risk being fired if they attempt to sabotage Government policies and programmes.

 “The civil servants who are engaging in partisan politics will not be tolerated in my district. They should stop it or risk being dismissed,” she said.

Ms Banda also warned those involved in illegal mining activities at Sandwe Gold mine in the district to stop or risk being arrested.

Ms. Banda said that there shall be no sacred cows when it comes to law enforcement.

She, however, disclosed that her office in conjunction with relevant authorities had managed to deport 60 illegal miners after being fined.

“We have done five to six patrols with the District Joint Operations Committee which involves the Police, Prison, the Army, Immigration and the Office of the President.

“Through these patrols, we managed to apprehend and arrest the illegal miners. At first we arrested 19, then 30 and 16. All these illegal miners were deported after being fined by the court of law,” she narrated.

She has, however, called on the police in Petauke to step up their efforts in safeguarding investment in the mining sector.

“There shall be no sacred cows when it comes to law enforcement; the police should see to it that all foreign and local criminals sending youths to commit illegal mining activities are arrested,” she warned.

Ms. Banda said much as the youth needed to be empowered, they don’t need to take the law into their own hands to get the much-needed empowerment through illegal activities.