By JAJAH COULIBALY –
POLICE are holding 11 suspects in connection with the recent gutting by fire of the Lusaka City Market and other acts of sabotage and arson that have been experienced in the country.
Confirming a statement made earlier in the week by State House that arson, rather than an accidental incident, was the most probable cause of the July 4 blaze that wrecked 1,400 stalls in the market, Inspector-General of Police Kakoma Kanganja said his men had picked up 11 persons in on-going investigations into the fire and other suspected acts of sabotage.
“I wish to inform the nation that the findings of the investigations undertaken so far have revealed that the cause of the fire was as a result of deliberate ignition by unscrupulous people with ill and pre-meditated intentions,” he said.
Speaking at the Police Force headquarters yesterday, Mr Kanganja said investigations in the real cause of the fire have reached an advanced stage and the nation would be soon informed.
He said whatever the cause of the fire, the possibility of an electrical fault or accidental acts as the cause of the inferno, had been ruled out.
He would not say how many of the suspects were directly being linked to the fire at City Market or the other acts of suspected sabotage that involved vandalism of power lines in Kafue and Ndola.
The fire prompted President Lungu to invoke Article 31 of the Constitution that gives police extra powers in the execution of their duties to help stop he said was a clear pattern of a campaign of sabotage.
Explaining the extra powers granted to the police, Mr Kanganja said Police would use them to prohibit publications and dissemination of information that was deemed to be pre-judicial to public safety.
“During this period, police will regulate and restrict movements more especially during dark hours, apprehension and detention of suspected criminals beyond 48 hours, search of places without a warrant and so on,” he said.
He warned the police would do their job without fear or favour. “Let me assure Zambians that there will be no sacred cows regardless of their political affiliation and status in society if found wanting,” he said.
Mr Kanganja assured the nation that the Police would not abuse their powers and warned that officers found doing so could expect to be disciplined accordingly.