POLICE in Lusaka have apprehended four suspects for allegedly collecting money at Intercity Bus Terminus and issuing receipts indicating ‘UPND Intercity Security and Marketeers Community’.

And Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba has directed Deputy Commissioners of Police to ensure that they devise mechanisms aimed at averting the harassment of members of the public in markets and bus stations by cadres.

In a statement, Tuesday, Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said police managed to apprehend four suspects who were currently detained for obtaining money by false pretences.

She added that the suspects would appear in court soon.

“On 07th September 2021 around 11:30 hours, police in Lusaka followed up on a matter in which a receipt was seen trending on social media indicating UPND Intercity security and marketers community and a payment of K20. Some youths were identified to be behind the issuance of the receipt and police managed to apprehend one of them identified as Stanley Phiri aged 36 years while three other suspects escaped but were later arrested. They have been identified as John Bombek aged 34, Charles Mulenga aged 40 years and Mathews Mwape aged 35 years. This occurred today Tuesday the 07th September 2021 at Intercity bus terminus. The suspects are detained for obtaining money by false pretenses and will appear in court soon,” said Katongo.

And in a statement issued earlier, Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba directed Deputy Commissioners of Police to ensure that they devise mechanisms aimed at averting the harassment of members of the public in markets and bus stations by cadres.

Kajoba said such an intervention would influence the deployment of police officers to markets and bus stations as a proactive measure.

“I have observed with concern the continued reports of harassment of members of the public in some markets and bus stations by some suspected political cadres. To address this problem, I have directed all Deputy Commissioners of Police in Provinces to ensure that they devise mechanisms aimed at averting this problem in all markets and bus stations under their charge. One such intervention will be the deployment of police officers to markets and bus stations as a proactive measure. This will enable us to respond to people’s concerns without delay hence protecting traders from those cadres who are trying to resist change in the running of markets and bus stations,” Kajoba said.

Kajoba appealed to traders to report individuals who were in a habit of harassing them.

“It has become a practice that whenever cadres notice the absence of police officers, they begin harassing the public and only escape the moment police officers are called in to restore order. We should not continue on that reactive route. My appeal to traders is that they should report individuals who are in a habit of harassing them to police officers who will be deployed and should always pay fees to officials from the local authorities and not cadres,” said Kajoba.