Don’t hesitate to go to S/Province, we’ll protect you – Police tell NRPUP

THE Zambia Police Service says NRPUP members should not hesitate to go to Southern Province for campaigns, as the police are ready to provide security for them. On Saturday, Tonse Pamodzi Alliance Presidential Spokesperson George Chisanga said the police should assure the safety of NRPUP members before they enter Southern Province. Speaking in an interview, […]

THE Zambia Police Service says NRPUP members should not hesitate to go to Southern Province for campaigns, as the police are ready to provide security for them.

On Saturday, Tonse Pamodzi Alliance Presidential Spokesperson George Chisanga said the police should assure the safety of NRPUP members before they enter Southern Province.

Speaking in an interview, Sunday, Police Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi said it is the opposition’s democratic right to meet the people of Southern Province, as they equally need to hear what they have to offer.

“The official position from the Zambia Police Service is that we are there as an entity mandated to provide security to people. When it’s all about people, every human being, Zambian or non-Zambian, it is our mandate [to protect them]. That’s the mandate that Zambians gave us: to provide security to all, regardless of where they are coming from. Article 193(2) is very clear, as well as protecting lives and property. That is our mandate. We protect all, regardless of their political background or affiliation. So we assure them that we will protect them because we are mandated to protect each and every Zambian. So, they should not hesitate to go to Southern Province,” Chilabi said.

“Our operation order to cover them is ready in Southern Province. I was just getting a briefing from the Commanding Officer, Southern Province, who says they have been ready since the other day, on Friday, waiting to provide security to them. It is their democratic right, as candidates and as political parties, to meet Zambians, in this case people in Southern Province so that they are given a chance to hear from them and make a choice. This is very clear. No restriction says such a person cannot go to such a place. So we assure them the Zambia Police Service will provide security to them, to accord them their fundamental rights of freedom of association. They need to associate with the people”.

Chilabi maintained that the police were ready to provide security, adding that anyone issuing threats against NRPUP members would be committing an offence.

“We are set. Our Commissioner is set on how to provide security to them. So those fears should not be there. It’s an assurance that we have at the Zambia Police Service that we are going to provide that security. And above all, heed the statement from the Commander-in-Chief. So there is no need to harbour fears. Neither are we going to block them. Nothing like that. That’s what it is. Let him just get in touch with the Commissioner of Police. The Commissioner is ready. The Commissioner is on the ground waiting for him, so that we provide that security. We are going to meet Zambians and show them professionalism,” said Chilabi.

“We are set as the Zambia Police Service. Because the Police Service is there to provide security. And if it’s true that there are those that are sending threats to them, it is an offense. We need to know who those people are and where they are coming from”.