Office of Public Protector calls out erring police traffic officers soliciting bribes, impounding vehicles

The Office of the Public Protector has noted with concern reports of the increase in unlawful impounding of motor vehicles by some traffic police officers.

Its Public Protector, Caroline Sokoni, stated that the impounding of motor vehicles by Zambia Police had increased even in circumstances where the offense committed was not impoundable under the law.

The Public Protector said this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday.

She observed that in most cases members of the public are law-abiding and are willing to pay fines that go into government coffers.

“However, some traffic police officers prefer impounding vehicles as a scheme to solicit bribes from inconvenienced motorists,” Sokoni said.

She stated that the act by traffic police officers was obstructing the government’s fight against maladministration and corruption when law enforcement officers should not be the ones who cause these vices to flourish.

Sokoni said her office would not allow a few officers under the Traffic Department dent the image of the Zambia Police Service due to their failure to follow the laid down procedures when carrying out their duties.

“I want call on the Zambia Police Service Traffic Officers to be professional and avoid procedural improprieties as they execute their duties that lead to the impounding of motor vehicles without proper justification and victimization of members of the public,” she appealed.

The Public Protector also appealed to members of the public who had been victims of police impounding their vehicles for questionable reasons to obtain the name and service number of police officers.

Sokoni said this should include the police station manning the roadblock and report to the Office of the Public Protector or the Police Public Complaints Commission.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.