By ALICE NACHILEMBE
The Zambia Police Service has dispelled the falsehood making rounds on social media that an officer lost a firearm whilst on duty at Nelson Mandela Secondary School.
Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said that what transpired was that on November 23, 2021 a grade twelve female pupil was offered a lift by two gentlemen as she was going to write her grade twelve examinations at Nelson Mandela School.
Mr Hamoonga said that after sometime, the two gentlemen who offered her a lift went back to the school with a complaint of having missed a phone in their car.
He said when they reached the school, they found the police officer who was guarding examination papers and reported the matter to him who later on informed the Head Teacher Ms Luhanga.
Mr Hamoonga said the Head Teacher advised that the identification of the pupil could only be done at the end of examinations.
“Later on the two complainants and the officer went through the classes and managed to identify the female pupil who denied stealing the phone. When going to the classes, the Head Teacher requested the officer not to go with the firearm as it would scare the pupils,” he said.
He said the officer left the firearm well secured and only went with a magazine.
Mr Hamoonga said the female pupil was identified but denied stealing the phone.
He said it was when they saw the officer with a magazine only that’s when they concluded that he had lost the firearm.
Mr Hamoonga has warned members of the public not to circulate unverified criminal incidents reports as this has a potential to instill fear in the general citizenry.
He has also warned all those behind the origination of these falsehoods that their days are numbered as the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.
