POLICE officers conducting patrols to prevent mass gatherings to help contain the spread of COVID-19 have been advised against using excessive force on defiant people. Inspector-General of Police Kakoma Kanganja expressed concern that some police officers involved in ensuring adherence to the ban on mass gatherings have resorted to using excessive force during their operations.

Mr Kanganja wants officers enforcing provisions of Statutory Instrument number 22, which spells out regulations aimed at containing the COVID-19, to carry out their duties within the confines of the law. Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said in a statement yesterday that Mr Kanganja has observed that some officers have resorted to using excessive force in conducting their duties and has called on supervisors to closely monitor the ongoing operations.

“He has guided that police officers should always observe the guidelines outlined in relevant pieces of legislation as well as police instructions which guide them on how and when to apply minimum force,” Ms Katongo said. She said Mr Kanganja has, however, called on the public to comply with presidential directives and regulations that have been put to contain COVID-19 pandemic.

“All those that will be found abrogating the law will not be spared but will be dealt with as provided by the law,” Ms Katongo said. And Ms Katongo has said Lusaka residents have been the most notorious in defying President Edgar Lungu’s directive to refrain from drinking alcohol in large groups. Speaking during a coronavirus daily update programme on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Television yesterday, Ms Katongo said levels of defiance to the preventive measures in Lusaka are unacceptable.

She attributed the high defiance levels to the large population in the capital city. The police spokesperson said some people are even going to gather in the bush to drink. “Some people are even meeting in the bush to drink but as police we are smart and have studied the situation. We will follow you and arrest or disperse you,” Ms Katongo said. She said police are not using excessive force but are working within their mandate to enforce the guidelines to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Ms Katongo said police are using different approaches within the law for different situations in enforcing the presidential directive. However, there has been a backlash from some residents accusing police of using excessive force. This prompted the Human Rights Commission to urge police not to abuse people’s rights by beating them. And speaking during the same programme, Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo says he is merely trying to protect the lives of Lusaka residents.

Mr Lusambo warned that those defying guidelines not to open bars will be whipped before their licences are revoked because the country’s economy is not strong enough to handle a full-blown outbreak of coronavirus. “Lusaka is the number one province of the country. We are not happy that it has been declared as the epicentre of coronavirus. Zambia is a small economy but even countries with sound economies are struggling with this pandemic,” he said.