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President Banda directs Police to respect Citizens’ rights |
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Thursday, 29 July 2010 |
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Lusaka----– President Rupiah Banda has directed Police Officers in the country to respect the rights of citizens in their discharge of duties.
 President Banda congratulates a graduand at Zambia Police Lilayi College Pass Out Parade-By SHABBY MULOPWE
Mr. Banda called upon the Police Service and other Defence forces in the country to ensure that these rights were protected.
The President was speaking in Lusaka Thursday during the passout parade of 589 trainee police constables at Lilayi Police College.
Mr. Banda reminded the officers that their profession required hard work, sacrifice and discipline.
He said Zambian people were looking up to the Police Service for protection, guidance and assistance in many matters not only in security ones.
“As Commander-in-Chief, I must repeat that I expect you to be hardworking, professional, and loyal to your Government and disciplined as you discharge your duties,” said Mr. Banda.
The President noted that Zambia had continued to be an oasis of peace and that the Zambia Police Service was one of the security institutions that had greatly contributed to peace.
President Banda expressed happiness that the Zambian people continued to enjoy peace and stability which he described as prerequisites for meaningful development.
He said it was gratifying that despite many challenges police officers faced, they have not relented in the fight against crime in the country.
“I wish, therefore, to commend the Inspector-General of Police and all in the Police Service for working to reduce crime in the country,” he said.
President Banda said the country had in the past few years continued to witness growth of foreign investment which he said could partly be attributed to the prevailing peace and stability.
He said no investor would want to risk their investments in a country where crime was rampant.
“It is important for you passing out today o be aware of this fact and your role in attracting investments,” he said.
And President Banda has assured police officers that his Government had resolved to improve their welfare and that of their families.
Mr. Banda said Government would ensure that problems of transport in police stations and other logistics such as uniforms were adequately addressed.
“We have started, for instance, by doing away with the direct supply of mealie meal to police officers because the method proved to be unreliable. We have instead started giving all officers mealie meal allowances together with their salaries,” said Mr. Banda.
And speaking earlier, Inspector-General of Police Francis Kabonde said the 589 officers who passed out today, were part of the 1,500 trainees recruited in August last year.
Mr. Kabonde said other trainees would complete their training at Kamfinsa School of Public Order and Maintenance and at Geoffrey Mukuka Paramilitary Training School.
He said once all the 1,500 recruits pass out, the police strength in the country would rise to 14,000.
Mr. Kabonde, however, said the 14,000 police officers were still not enough to cater for over 12 million Zambians.
“It means the ratio is one police officer to about 850 people. The internationally accepted standard ratio is one police officer to 250 people,” he explained.
He appealed to Government to allow the service to recruit annually so that the country could have police strength of 27,000 by 2015.
And Lilayi Police Collage Commandant, Richard Mweene said the recruits had undergone intensive training and were ready for duty.
Of the 589 recruits that passed out today, 211 were women.
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Politics 
