Kalabo DC appeals to IG TO tighten security on Zambia-Angola border

Kalabo District Commissioner (DC) Masela Chinyama has appealed to Inspector General (IG) of Police Stella Libongani to tighten security on the Zambia-Angola border in Kalabo and Sikongo districts by sending more police officers to the districts.

Mrs. Chinyama told the IG that Kalabo and Sikongo districts were sharing a 230 kilometre border stretch with neighbouring Angola that was porous and was coupled with threats of gunmen popularly known as Karavinas and cattle rustling syndicates respectively between the two countries.

Mrs. Chinyama also said that there were a lot of unregistered motor bikes and products such as fuel that were illegally coming into Kalabo and Sikongo from Angola that needed to be regulated.

She added that that Kalabo only has 22 police officers out of an establishment of 53.

The DC said this in Kalabo yesterday when the IG paid a courtesy call on her in a speech read for her by the District Administrative Officer (DAO) Mwiya Inambao.

Mrs. Chinyama also appealed to the IG for increased fuel allocations and a water vessels for police operations as rivers and flooded areas were making it difficult to access the areas to comb crime.

She also suggested for the construction of drainages in Kalabo Police Camp as it was prone to floods every rainy season or the re-location of the camp to some higher ground.

And in reponse Ms Libongani  said she had taken note of l the concerns raised especially those pertaining to criminal activities in the mentioned areas.

Ms. Libongani disclosed that the Zambia Police Service was undergoing restructuring and a new establishment targeting 27 000 police officers was being worked on.

She added that currently 1 100 police officers are undergoing training and will pass out this August.

Ms. Libongani said that some vacancies would be filled up although the number will not achieve the required target but would help in reducing or combing criminal activities.

She assured the Kalabo DC that government was supporting the Zambia Police Service in the challenges it was facing.

Ms Libongani cited the on-going program building of staff houses countrywidel.

The Inspector General of Police was on a one day tour of Kalabo to acquaint herself with the  challenges officers were facing in the area.