Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja has warned all political players against causing violence ahead of polling day in the Katuba constituency parliamentary by-election.

In a statement, Monday, Kanganja cautioned that the tendency of ambushing the peace-loving electorate would not be tolerated by police.

“With the one day remaining to polling day, I wish to re-iterate the importance of maintaining the peace by all political players so as to avoid spoiling the peaceful environment that has so far prevailed in Katuba constituency and other areas from the time the campaigns commenced. We have information regarding criminal-minded people who are planning to incite others to bring disturbances and violence, by disrupting the prevailing smooth campaign environment,” Kanganja stated ahead of today’s poll.

“The tendency of ambushing the peace-loving electorate by some people as experienced in previous by-elections will not be tolerated. The Zambia Police Service is more than determined and ready to bring the perpetrators to book.”

And he announced that more police officers had been deployed to the area to enhance security.

“As a preventive measure, more police officers have been deployed to beef up the current manpower so as to enhance security. The increase in the number of officers deployed is basically intended to protect the electorate and all other stakeholders as well as repel any imminent disruption of the good order and peace that has prevailed since the inception of campaigns,” stated Kanganja.

“My re-assurance to people of Katuba constituency and other parts of the country where by-elections are taking place is that police will ensure that the areas are violence-free during and after the election, as guided by the laws of Zambia. Let me end by congratulating and thanking the peace-loving electorate for refusing and denouncing violence and wish to urge them to report to the police perpetrators and inciters of violence so that they are brought to book.”