Dismiss corrupt cops

Sun, 25 Jun 2017 10:59:42 +0000

THAT the Zambia Police Service is the most corrupt government institution in Zambia is not a baseless allegation.

Efforts to dispel such a perception is not only an attempt to shield the rot but also directly works against mechanisms which can ensure better public service delivery for the benefit of national development.

Revelations by parliamentary committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs chairperson Dr. Martin Malama when presenting a report to Parliament that the Zambia Police is too corrupt last Friday is not surprising.

The Zambia Bribe Payers Index (ZBPI) survey which is jointly conducted by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has annually ranked the Zambia Police particularly the Traffic Department as most corrupt among the law enforcement agencies in this country.

We recall in November last year, Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo issued a directive to the Zambia Police to cut down on the number of road blocks from 81 to 40 in Lusaka to minimise inconveniencing the travelling public, motorists and rid the Police of rampant corruption.

Despite this ministerial directive, it has been business as usual. Officers from the Traffic Department has continued mounting road blocks on undesignated routes such as roads in the heart of compounds for the sole purpose of extorting cash from unsuspecting motorists.

What is more annoying is that even when a motorist admits to committing a traffic offence, thereby agrees to pay the fine, there is no guarantee that proceeds realised are channelled to government treasury as provided by law.

What measures has government employed to change the status quo? Has government acted on recommendations from previous surveys, let alone corrupt officers dismissed from the system?

With the advent of advanced technology, the Ministry of Home Affairs should consider adopting mechanisms to seal loopholes so that government does not continue to lose colossal sums of money through corruption.

For instance, the government of Zimbabwe has enacted legislation that prohibits traffic police officers from collecting fines in cash at road blocks as a deliberate mechanism to curb corruption. All road traffic fines are now paid through electronic system such as swiping machines both at road blocks and designated pay points.

Additionally, Zimbabwe like other SADC member States is using technology to monitor the flow of traffic via installation of satellites and closed-circuit television cameras on major public roads.

Going by the pragmatic steps that other governments have adopted in order to minimise the chances of traffic police officers stealing and abusing their offices particularly at road blocks, it would be the most ideal thing for the Ministry of Home Affairs to embrace to fighting the scourge.

Though we do not concur with members of Parliament calling for disbanding of the Zambia Police Traffic Department due to rampant corruption, there is urgent need to synchronise the work of the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) with the Police.

Much as the mandates of the RTSA and Police Traffic Department are different, they both fight for the same cause, that is, to ensure sanity prevails on public roads. Why has the Zambia Traffic Department not executed its work like the RTSA has done?

For example, there is a Police Public Complaints Authority whose mandate is to deal with complaints against erring police officers but the members of the public do not know how many officers have been dismissed in the past on account of corruption? Does this mean police officers are not corrupt as perceived?

We think it is crucially important for Government not only to initiate reforms aimed at improving operations of the Zambia Police Service but also act on recommendations on how to rid the Service of corruption that has engulfed the Traffic Department.