Cops have been corrupted by MMD, says Simenda

Cops have been corrupted by MMD, says Simenda
By Florence Bupe
Wed 26 May 2010, 03:50 CAT

UPND vice-president for politics Francis Simenda has charged that police have failed to arrest William Banda because they have been corrupted by the ruling party. In an interview, Simenda said despite threats of violence from Lusaka provincial MMD chairman Banda, police had kept quiet.

“Despite complaints against William Banda over his threats of violence, police have not effected any arrests just because it’s a ruling party official involved. Every time we follow up the issue we are told the police are still investigating, what is there to investigate?” Simenda wondered.

He complained that police were dragging on the issue of the Mufumbwe violence despite overwhelming evidence indicating that the chaos was perpetrated by MMD cadres.

“We had one of our members Charles Kakoma battered and the culprits were identified but to date there have been no arrests made,” he said.

Simenda also welcomed the removal of Lameck Mangani from his position as home affairs minister. He suggested that there was need to revisit the appointment of the Inspector General of Police to ensure an independent law enforcement institution.

“The removal of Mangani is long overdue and we propose that it should be extended to the police service. We need to change the appointment of the Inspector General,” Simenda said. “We suggest that the Inspector General should be appointed by an independent body and ratified by Parliament as opposed to presidential appointments.”

Simenda said the proposed change would ensure that the police service remains non- partisan in their dispensing of duties.