By 
Acting Inspector General of Police, Milner Muyambango, has warned officers against mounting checkpoints and roadblocks at undesignated locations, citing the risk posed to motorists and other road users.
Muyambango noted that the Police Command had been receiving numerous complaints from the public regarding some officers’ conduct in setting up unauthorised or illegal checkpoints and roadblocks in various parts of the country.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday, Muyambango expressed the Police Command’s serious concern over this unethical behavior and emphasized that it would not be tolerated.
He issued a stern warning to officers, reminding them that they were expected to enforce traffic laws and regulations ethically and within the law.
Officers found manning unauthorised checkpoints would face appropriate disciplinary action, authorities said.
“While traffic checkpoints and roadblocks are essential tools for law enforcement, it is evident that some officers are abusing them. This state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue,” Muyambango said.
He directed provincial police commanders to ensure that checkpoints and roadblocks were established only when the security situation warrants it.
Muyambango also urged the public to report any suspicious checkpoints or roadblocks immediately so that remedial action could be taken against the responsible officers.
“Officers are further guided to operate within the confines of traffic laws and regulations, such as providing a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) to erring motorists, which is applicable to some traffic offenses,” he stated.
He explained that this notice gave motorists seven days to pay for offenses at any police station within their jurisdiction.
Muyambango also directed police officers at checkpoints, roadblocks, or any operational locations to always display their name tags with service numbers and names.
He emphasized that these details should be visible so that the public knew who they were dealing with at any given moment.
“If the police officer has no name tag displayed, members of the public are at liberty to request their names and service numbers,” he added.
Muyambango further called on the public to refrain from bribing police officers, warning that relevant provisions of the law would be applied to anyone caught engaging in such activities.
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