By Scoop Reporter
THE security of the President shall be the responsibility of the Zambia police because they are trained to handle the VIP, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, Bonny Kapeso has told the Patriotic Front cadres.
Speaking during a meeting with PF officials from Lusaka this morning, Mr. Kapeso says he has observed with dismay that PF party cadres were in the habit of taking over the security of the President from police officers and has demanded that this must end forthwith.
He says only police officers are mandated to provide security to the President and that and that the service is not ready to create two security wings for the Head of State.
“We will continue to provide quality services to the Zambian people. We are not ready to create two parallel security organisations in Zambia. Yes, security is important in your party but your security must not supersede that of the Zambia Police service.
“Even when you have national rallies, this I have noticed, let us advise our members that the security of the head of state is very important and shall be the responsibly of the Zambia police. It shall the responsibility of the Zambia police because that is the VIP and we are trained to handle such situations.
“I want to discourage political party cadres to refrain from taking over form police officers where you even go inside and cordon off and then put the police officers at the back. Let us reverse that trend because it is dangerously risky because even a PF member could be treated as an enemy according to the police officers who are mandated to secure the security of the VIP,” Mr. Kapeso warned.
