UPND national chairman Stephen Katuka has appealed to Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja to inspire his officers to conduct themselves in a professional way where all political players are treated fairly ahead of the August elections.

In a letter addressed to Kanganja, Tuesday, Katuka said threatening the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema or any other opposition political leader would not restore the waning confidence in the police.

He reminded Kanganja that under his leadership, the police had committed some of the ‘worst unprofessional’ transgressions against its citizens instead of protecting them.

“We note with distress the press statement dated April 19, 2021 and attributed to yourself, the Inspector General of Police suggesting that the UPND president Mr Hakainde Hichilema issued falsehoods regarding the scheme aimed at arresting the latter. We shall remind you sir that under your leadership the police have committed some of the worst unprofessional transgressions against its citizens instead of protecting them due to other considerations, which are not in the best interest of the country. Just in December last year, the police under your charge summoned Mr Hichilema to Force Headquarters for questioning over a matter that was actively in the courts of law. This conduct, at law and in our view, is devoid of accountability and professionalism that is required of an impartial police service,” Katuka stated.

“Mr Kanganja sir, the citizens have not forgotten how your police officers under your charge bungled and stormed Mr Hichilema’s residence under the cover of darkness for a traffic offence. Unfortunately, when he was eventually arrested he was charged for treason but never saw the light of court for more than 100 days he was incarcerated. Most recently, we warned the citizens that the police were intending to arrest UPND officials in Southern Province over the disappearance of Hatembos, and again without shame, our warning came to pass. The examples of unprofessional conduct by the police officers under your charge are too numerous to itemise, but the general public perception is that the reputation of the service has been soiled.”

Katuka further stated that the police had a responsibility to protect all citizens while ensuring that their integrity was upheld.

“A political party of UPND magnitude knows that there are still men and women of integrity in all institutions of governance such as the police service, who are determined to ensure that our country prosper in a peaceful and orderly manner. The police have a responsibility to protect all citizens of this country while ensuring that the integrity of the police is upheld. Threatening Mr Hichilema or any other opposition political leader will not restore the waning confidence in the police. We appeal to you sir, to inspire the police officers to conduct themselves in a very professional way where all political players are treated fairly ahead of the August 12 general elections,” stated Katuka.