Lungu calls for peace during Petauke by-elections

—-Home Affairs Minister, Edgar Lungu, has called on Petauke police Officer In Charge, Robert Ngosa, to ensure that peace and tranquillity prevail in the fourth coming local government by-elections.

Mr Lungu said his office is ready to support the police service in Petauke district to avoid what happened in the Livingstone parliamentary by-election.

He added that the police should engage all political parties participating in the by-election so that they do not crash by proving the Officer In Charge with their programmes for easy monitoring.

This came to light yesterday when Mr Lungu paid a courtesy call on the District Commissioner, Elijah Mwale, and other offices which fall under his ministry.

Meanwhile, Petauke Police Officer in Charge, Robert Ngosa, said his office has put all logistics in place to ensure that the forth coming local government by-elections are violent free.

Mr Ngosa added that his office is working out other modalities which will curtail accommodation challenges which have rocked the security wing in Petauke.

He was quick to mention that the crime levels in the district have drastically reduced due to the concerted efforts of his officers and the neighbourhood watch.

And Petauke District Commissioner, Elijah Mwale, informed the minister that Petauke district is calm, adding that the harvest for this year may not be good due to pressing factors such as late distribution of farming inputs and lack of enough rainfall.

Meanwhile, Petauke District Migration Officer in Charge, Henry Sakala, told the minister that his office is marred by challenges such as shortage of staff and lack of transport.

Mr Sakala added that his office has only three officers who are running the district which has a population of over 300,000 people that have office dealing with foreigners from Mozambique, Malawi and a few are Tanzanian nationals.

He, however, assured the minister that the skeleton of officers at the district is able to contain the situation.

The Home Affairs Minister, however, assured Mr Sakala that he noted their problems, adding that government will look into the matter.