LUAPULA Province Permanent Secretary Boniface Chimbwali has advised marine soldiers to refrain from using excessive force when carrying out their patrols during the fish ban.
Mr Chimbwali was reacting to a report from Mwense District Commissioner Geoffrey Chipampata regarding the operations of the marine soldiers.
The permanent secretary said the security wings had a right to carry out patrols during the ban, but advised them not to use excessive force when  they found people with fish.
He added that  people should not be victimised but should be handed over to the police for possible prosecution.
“They have a right to carry out their patrols during the fish ban and people should comply but they should not use excessive force. They should not go to an extent of victimising people, even those who are innocent,” Mr. Chimbwali said.
He apologised on behalf of Government to the affected people, but implored them to observe the fish ban.
And Mr Chipampata in his report said the marine soldiers and fisheries officers from Nchelenge had been mistreating people in Mwense during their patrols.
He said some people were reported to have lost some household items while others had their doors destroyed as the officers used force to gain entry in search of fish.
On Monday this week, seven people in Mwense District were arrested by a fish ban patrol team comprising officers from the Drug Enforcement Commission and ministry of Fisheries and Livestock after they were found with fish.
The team also confiscated a total of 121 kilogrammes of fish and 13 fishing nets.
According to the Fisheries Act number 22 of 2011, it is an offence for any person to fish, be in possession, trade or transport any kind of fish during the fish ban period.- ZANIS