THE Zambia Police Service says it is illegal for a civilian to wear military fatigue, a popular choice of clothing amongst political party cadres.

Police Police spokesperson Esther Mwata Katongo told journalists that would resensentise the public on the issue.

Responding to queries from journalists about photo doing rounds on social media of man captured in the same frame with two police officers wearing military pants, a PF T-shirt bearing President Edgar Lungu’s image and a firearm in his waist, Katongo said such dress code had disppeared after the service engaged different political parties.

She however noted that military wear had again returned amongst political party cadres.

“It is the Law which forbids, the penal code, defence act, police act among others. In the recent past we did a lot of sensitization and we engaged political parties that was when we saw the trend reduce and political parties opted for alternative attire both PF and UPND. We now see this trend coming back, we need to re engage the political parties once more,” Katongo explained.

She said the media was also key in curbing the use of military wear by voicing out.

When journalists pressed why the officers in the picture had not arrested the gun-brandishing man, Katongo responded, “the fact that she was there and did not act does not mean she was intimidated. Before taking any action one needs to assess the situation and look at ones safety.”