•KANGANJA

By PASSY HAACHIZO –

INSPECTOR General of Police Kakoma Kanganja has urged police officers to exercise maximum professionalism and be diligent as the country’s general election approaches.
Mr Kanganja said there was need for police officers to be equipped with knowledge on how to handle an election.
He was speaking in a speech read for him by his deputy in-charge of administration, Eugene Sibote at a workshop for trainers on how to police the 2016 general elections.
The workshop, which drew senior police officers from the country’s 10 provinces, was aimed at educating them on how to handle conflicts related to elections.
Mr Kanganja noted that the 2016 general elections needed expertise due to the uniqueness resulting from a paradigm shift in the electoral system precipitated by the amended Constitution.
He said there was need for senior officers to equip themselves with the necessary knowledge and instill confidence and knowledge in junior officers on how to keep law and order during the election.
“This is pertinent and timely as it gives fresh impetus to our undertaking, that delivering a free and fair election, devoid of violence and meeting the inherent expectations of our role in a democracy, requires our collective efforts through training,” he said.
Mr Kanganja said there was an additional need for his officers to be familiar with various laws and provisions that govern each election and the implications involved in both policing and practice at the operational level.
He, however, reminded the officers of their mandate to maintain law and order, while upholding citizen’s human rights.
“As such, it is envisaged that the training, which shall subsequently be rolled out to all the provinces will enhance capacities of our officers in policing the 2016 general elections with utmost professionalism and confidence,” he said.
The workshop was aimed at strengthening the understanding of each participant and application of the methodologies in readiness for the task to handle an election.
This would help to ensure that the polls are free from violence before, during and after.