. Simbyakula

By CHUSA SICHONE –
GOVERNMENT has assured that it will do everything possible to ensure that it recruits more police officers to meet the more than 9,000 deficit by the year 2016.
The Zambia Police Service in its 2013 to 2016 Strategic Plan seeks to raise its staffing to 27, 000 from the current 17, 211.
Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula said this when he officiated at the graduation parade of  357 recruit constables at Geoffrey Mukuma Training School popularly known as ‘Sondela’ in Kafue yesterday.
“Government is aware that the Zambia Police Service is in need of more officers to fulfill its mandate. “Government will therefore do everything possible to ensure that manpower levels are raised to 27,000 as projected in the 2013 to 2016 Zambia Police Strategic Plan,” he said.
Dr Simbyakula said emerging organised crimes, population increase and the country’s rapid development needed for more officers to be recruited if the economic growth was to be enjoyed by the rightful beneficiaries.
“I therefore wish to direct the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the officers who are passing out during this period are deployed in the needy areas of our society so as to promote development,” he
said.
He also said that Government attached importance to building capacity in the Zambia Police Service and through his ministry, had to this effect signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Turkish
National Police to enhance security cooperation.
Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani said the pass out parade had accorded the Zambia Police Service another opportunity to increase its strength and that the officers would improve service delivery and warned them against unprofessional conduct.