By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Golden Party president Jackson Silavwe says that the recent waves of criminal activities across the country are a clear sign that the Zambia Police Service needs urgent reforms to effectively police the communities.
Mr Silavwe said the quality-of-life Crimes such as criminal gangs, disorderly conduct, vagrancy, drug dealing, prostitution, car parts thefts, public nuisance are spiraling out of control in cities.
He said most Zambians do not feel safe or adequately protected by the state police.
Mr Silavwe said the presence of the police officers in the communities in as far as crime prevention and fighting is very weak.
As Golden Party of Zambia (GPZ), we emphatically repeat our call even to President Hichilema and the police command to reform the Zambia Police Service. Among other reforms, we urge the President and police command to consider the following; The creation of a separate constitutional Premier Investigation Agency to assist in handling major workloads such as terrorism, economic crimes, organized crime, murder, “he said.
He said the creation of an Independent Police Directorate (IPD) to investigate corruption, malpractices and general misconduct within Zambia Police Service, Disband or Reduce the Zambia Police Department and redeploy the man power to crucial arms and legs functions in the communities.
Mr Silavwe also said Modernization of the entire police service to prevent and solving crimes that impede on the quality-of-life of the citizens.
Other reforms are that the recruitment of officers to be done by an independent authority and the police service must move its current colonial form to a professional, efficient and robust institution that is responsive to their needs in communities.
