Police say Constable Spider Ngoma was assaulted by Mazabuka UPND member of parliament Garry Nkombo and the law will take its course once investigations are concluded.
And police say officers are at liberty to “search and detain any vessel suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained”.
Meanwhile, according to an extended version of the video, Constable Ngoma, who threatened to shoot Nkombo and his wife, claims he was not on duty but was walking back home after work.
In a statement today, police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo said the Zambia Police Service Command was concerned with the tendency to attack police officers.
“The Zambia Police Service Command has noted with great concern the tendency to attack police officers on duty by some members of the public. Recently, a video in which a police officer on duty at Petroda Filling Station, along Lusaka-Kafue Road in Chilanga was assaulted whilst carrying out his duties went viral, with many people drawing conclusions without critically examining or understanding the situation,” Katongo said.
“To set the record straight, the Zambia Police Service has instituted investigations into the matter, as the police officer concerned has reported that, he was beaten and roughed up by an identified individual. Once our investigations are concluded, appropriate measures in accordance with the law shall be taken.”
She also said the police command was impressed by the “level of discipline” which constable Ngoma displayed.
“The police command is impressed by the level of discipline and restraint the attacked officer displayed under extreme provocation. We must therefore take this opportunity to warn members of the public that it is an offence to beat, rough up or indeed embarrass a law enforcement officer carrying out police duties,” Katongo said.
And Katongo said officers were at liberty to “search and detain any vessel suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained”.
“Furthermore, members of the public should note that in accordance with section 23 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Chapter 88, Police officers are at liberty to stop, search and detain any vessel, aircraft or vehicle in or upon which there is reason to suspect that anything stolen or unlawfully obtained maybe found,” she said.
“In the case at hand, the police officer on duty was within the confines of the law to demand to search the vehicle in question. As members of the public might remember, we have had heinous crimes committed in Chilanga District and our officers are still investigating these crimes.”
Katongo outlined some of the channels through which people who register their displeasure with some officers’ conduct.
“It should be noted that the Zambia Police Service shall not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any person who attacks a police officer on duty. Where members of the public are aggrieved with the conduct of police officers, they should report such officers to their supervisors, or indeed the Police Command. The Police Public Complaints Commission and the Public Protector are yet other public institutions to which erring police officers could be reported,”Katongo said.
She also told journalists in a WhatsApp group today that constable Ngoma could not be subjected to an alcohol test because there was no complaint against him.
“We did not receive any complaint against the officer to warrant us subject him to alcohol taste. We just saw all that on social media,” said Katongo.
Meanwhile, in according to an extended version of the video, Constable Ngoma, who threatened to shoot Nkombo and his wife, claims he was not on duty but was walking back home after work.
In the extended video, Nkombo and his wife finally allow Constable Ngoma to search their vehicle and he finds noting in it.
Watch the extended video below:
