Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja says enough officers have been deployed in Mangango constituency, in Kaoma, to protect people and property in the run-up to the by-election scheduled for November 20. q5Mr Kanganja described the situation in Mangango as calm and he has since implored the people in the area to turn out in numbers on Tuesday next week, to cast their votes.

The people of Mangango constituency go to the polls to elect a new leader following the death of United Party for National Development Member of Parliament Naluwa Mweene, who died in a road traffic accident. “I was in Mangango yesterday [Wednesday] and the situation is very calm. My appeal is for people there to go out in their numbers to cast their vote because we have enough officers to protect them,” he said. Mr Kanganja was speaking here on Thursday during the launch of the Direct Deposit System (DDS) for Western Province.

He also warned officers involved in corrupt practices that their days are numbered. Speaking when he rolled out the DDS for Western Province, Mr Kanganja said the service will not hesitate to dismiss anyone found wanting. “I call upon you all to stay away from corruption because it does not pay. In the recent past, some of our officers, especially those in the traffic department, have been caught engaging themselves in corrupt practices. I wish to categorically state that my command will not condone such behaviour,” he said.

Mr Kanganja said he expects officers to be role models, and their conduct should, therefore, be above board. “Our responsibility is that of protecting members of the public, hence, every police officer is expected to be sober-minded even in situations of extreme provocation. This calls for good judgment and high levels of discipline,’’ he said.

Speaking Earlier, Western Province commissioner of police Charles Lungu said the DDS is timely. Mr Lungu said the system will reduce the temptation that comes with handling cash. And North-Western Province commissioner of police Hudson Namachila has urged political parties participating in the November 20 Tuvwanganayi ward by-election to advise their supporters to desist from violence or face the full wrath of the law. Mr Namachila said the police command will not tolerate lawlessness in the run-up to the polls.

Speaking in an interview on Friday, Mr Namachila also advised members of the public to feel free to attend political rallies because there is enough manpower to contain any situation. He said the police command has reinforced manpower in Solwezi to ensure that the campaigns in Tuvwanganayi are violence-free.

“We have brought in 45 officers from outside Solwezi that is from St Dorothy, Kalumbila, Meheba and Kasempa, to beef up security and we have also received 19 officers from the mobile unit in Kanfinsa who are camped there to handle any situation,” Mr Namachila said. Mr Namachila has also advised political parties to notify the police about their political gatherings in Tuvwanganayi ward in good time so that adequate security is provided.