Kabompo residents have complained about the poor hygienic and un-conducive environment in the police cells in Kabompo.
And the residents have appealed to the government to construct a police station, a police camp and provide transport to the police officers in Kabompo.
The residents say they are forced to be in inhabitable police cells when they come in conflict with the law.
One of the residents, Kayombo Kambimba, said the cell is just a provisional structure that has no toilet and water in it to cater for the suspects who are kept in police custody.
This came to light April 2nd in Kabompo district during a sensitization workshop conducted at the Kabompo District Council chamber by the Police Public Complaints Authority (PPCA) attended by heads of government departments, council workers, the clergy, civil society organisation representatives and Kabompo residents.
Mr Kambimba said he appreciated the efforts of police officers working in Kabompo but appealed to the Ministry of Home Affairs to consider building a police station.
He said only Solwezi and Mwinilunga districts have one while the rest have five and two newly created Ikeleng’i and Manyinga districts do not have.
The residents welcomed the visit by the PPCA in sensitizing them on the role and duties of police officers including their own fundamental basic human rights to report police officers who do work in a professional manner during the execution of their duties.
PPCA Chairman, James Mwanakatwe, said the authority has intentions to establish new offices in provinces so that police officers were held accountable in their duty and that members of the general public should to report erring officers who are bent on abusing their powers.
Kabompo District Police Officer In-charge, Edgar Nkhowani, said his office is open for aggrieved citizens and urged them to desist from rushing to the media if they were to get assistance.
Mr Nkhowani pledged to conduct sensitization programmes in villages and communities to educate the residents on the confines of the law and its provisions besides maintaining law and order.
He dismissed assertions that police officers apply maximum force on innocent suspects among them caught loitering in the night or commonly known as ‘shishita’.
Kabompo District Commissioner (DC), Febby Kilele, who attended the sensitization workshop, said government is aware of the prevailing situation at Kabompo police.