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The Police Public Complaints Authority (PPCA) is intending to decentralise its operations to all the nine provinces of Zambia.
PPCA chairman James Mwanakatwe said opening new offices in province would help police officers and members of the public to report erring officers to relevant authorities.
This came to light today when Mr. Mwanakatwe and his entourage paid a courtesy call on North-western Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu.
He said the authority only has presence in the country’s capital city, Lusaka hence making it difficult to monitor and get complains from rural provinces of the country.
He said at the moment, PPCA conducts mobile public hearings in provinces but the exercise was costly.
He disclosed that the authority was finalizing its policy and would soon review the Zambia Police Act to make the two pieces of legislation respond to the needs of the Zambian people.
And North-western Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu welcomed the move to open PPCA offices in rural areas.
Mr. Mubukwanu observed that cases of some police officers have been pending for a very long time, making the culprits not to working professionally.
Earlier, PPCA chairman Mr. Mwanakatwe told North-western Permanent Secretary (PS), Amos Malupenga that people in rural areas were not aware of the authority and its functions.
Mr. Mwanakatwe that was the reason why PPCA was in the region to sensitize the public about its mandate of receiving all complaints against the conduct of some police officers, investigate and submit its findings and recommendations to the government through the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He said this during a courtesy call on Mr. Malupenga who urged the authority to increase interaction with people because they were ignorant about the existence of PPCA.
Meanwhile, North-western Police Commissioner Eugene Sibote has assured investors in the region that their investments were safe.
Mr. Sibote said police have a duty to ensure that investors doing business in North-western Province were protected.
He said this when PPCA chairman Mr. Mwanakatwe and his entourage paid a courtesy call on him at his office.
He said investors that are in North-western Province were contributing to the growth of the economy and were also creating jobs for the local people in the area.
Mr. Sibote’s assurance comes in the wake of suspected criminals who attempted to steal a vehicle belonging to the Chief Executive Officer of Kalumbila mine in Mwinilunga district.
In response, Mr. Mwanakatwe commended Mr. Sibote for his outstanding performance in executing his duties.
He said Mr. Sibote has demonstrated good qualities and attributes of a leader although the PPCA was concerned about the conduct of some senior police officers who were allegedly indiscipline and abusive by suppressing the chances, promotions and recommendations of junior officers.
The PPCA is in North-western province to conduct a series of public hearings and get submissions from police officers and members of the public.
Mr. Mwanakatwe is accompanied to North-Western province his Vice Chairman Emmanuel Chileshe, PPCA Secretary Girland Safwila, PPCA Executive Director Shambase Chinyonga and three other commissioners.
