Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde has directed all police commanding officers countrywide to allow people who lost their voters cards obtain police reports free to enable them register as voters.
Mr Kabonde said the decision follows several concerns from affected Zambians who complained about the K30,000 charge the police were demanding to obtain police reports.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Kabonde said the directive was with immediate effect and appealed to all commanding officers to ensure that they implemented the directive without any further delays.
“I would like to confirm that I have directed all provincial commanding officers to allow people obtain police reports free. The directive is with immediate effect,” he said.
Mr Kabonde hoped that people who lost their cards would turn up in large numbers to register as voters during the 90 day period as announced by the Electoral commission of Zambia (ECZ).
He said that the move was aimed at attracting more people to register as voters ahead of the elections and called on the public to turn up in large numbers and register before the exercise comes to an end.
He said the police were committed to supplementing Government’s efforts in ensuring more Zambians who lost their voters’ cards registered. He does not want the issue of police reports to deny the public the right to vote.
“As police we have done our part by taking into consideration the concerns raised and we hope that people who lost their cards will take this opportunity to go and register at various registration centres without worrying about police reports,” he said.
And Mr Kabonde has called on Zambians to continue maintaining peace, especially during the registration period and that the police would continue to monitor the exercise as a way of maintaining law and order.
[ Times of Zambia ]
What has the police got to do with this? 😮 Yangu tata…..first degree rigging. Ati ukulufya ka voters card is more important of a case than umusheto. 😕 This Kabonde should not have a place in the police force.
Mr Kabonde, firstlyn where is Dr Muzo?
Okey so Kabonde has finally agreed that POLICE is used for rigging! I will go get the report and register elsewhere so that we can also rig for the pact
And if I don’t get Report? does that mean I wont be registered?
Y reacting so swiftly on this one and yet you drugged your feet on Dr Musonda and The Mufumbwe Fiasco (wheres Kajilo Muzungu?) ….suntwe iwe! (coward Hyena)
This is a good move by the Police. A lot of you fellas being negative, what is wrong with you? People were unwilling to obtain police reports because of the cost. Now they have no excuse
The IG has “missed it”, he has no powers whatsoever to make police reports free…. That is non tax-revenue … controlled by treasury under ministry of Finance though Police is allowed to appropriate a certain percentage. I wonder who his advisors are. Mr. IG who has empowered you to make treasury decisions? Pa Zambia……..only pa Zambia.