State monitoring Mozambique border situation

PARLIAMENT has heard that Government is still closely monitoring the border situation between Zambia and Mozambique considering that civil strife has erupted in that country.
A civil war is reported to have broken out between that Government and Renamo rebels.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister Alfreda Kansembe said that Zambians living along that border were still being sensitised to ensure they were alert and knew what to do in any situation.
Ms Kansembe was responding to a question by Lukulu West Member of Parliament Misheck Mutelo who wanted to know what measures Government had taken to protect the Zambians living along the border post with Mozambique due to the civil strife in the area.
She said border patrols had also been increased to improve the security situation along the border.
Ms Kansembe however, described the security situation at that border as calm and peaceful, and that normal activities were going on well around the border areas.
Meanwhile, opposition MPs and other Patriotic Front (PF) backbenchers took Government to task over delays to furnish police posts in the country.
The parliamentarians said they had worked with their communities to build police posts but Government was not complementing their efforts by providing furniture for the police posts.
PF Kabwata MP, Given Lubinda asked whether there had been a change in Government policy to provide furniture for police stations.
UPND Monze Central MP, Jack Mwiimbu wondered why Government was taking so long to buy furniture for the police posts throughout the country when communities had made their contributions by building police posts.
MMD Chembe MP, Mwansa Mbulakulima was also concerned about Government delays in purchasing furniture for police posts in the country.
But Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula assured the House that Government would start furnishing the police stations as soon as funds were available.
Earlier, Ms Kansembe also told the House that Government was aware of the rising crime levels in North Western Province due to the increase in population.
She said her ministry would build a regional police station in that province in 2015 and had since requested the provincial administration to find land which could be used to build a regional police station in the area.

Times