By Paul Shalala
Congratulations to Chingola District Deputy Officer Commanding Mr Nicholas Yulu who has been awarded with the Long Service Medal for being dedicated to work during the Police Day commemorations in Chingola today.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Chipoka Mulenga was on hand to decorate the hardworking officer who has given 20 years of his life to serving the nation through the Police Service.
Remember gassing and hacking all started in Chingola and Chiwempala Township was the epicenter.
Before his recent promotion to be the Second in Command in the District, Mr Yulu was the Officer-In-Charge at Chiwempala Police Station.
Under his command, his officers fought gassers, they fought the hackers and they even fought looters.
I remember covering the riots which broke out in Chiwempala, Mikiloni, Maiteneke, Costa, Chabanyama and many other areas and Mr Yulu was in the thick of things.
I remember hiding in a Police vehicle at Chiwempala Market as stones were flying all over but Mr Yulu assured us that the situation would be brought under control.
His officers were outnumbered by the rioters but they stood their ground and brought the situation to normalcy.
Mr Yulu deserves this medal, he is a rare officer who has shown dedication to duty despite the challenges Police officers face daily.
I will also not forget another dedicated Police officer who should have also been awarded today if he was in the country.
Kennedy Ngulube the Officer-In-Charge at Nchanga Police Station is another exemplary officer who did all he could to bring peace to Chingola.
Today, Mr Ngulube is proudly serving the nation under the United Nations in one of the peacekeeping missions in a war-torn country in Africa.
During the gassing and hacking periods, these two officers temporarily left their homes and were spending nights at their respective Police Stations were they were commanding their troops on day and night patrols.
We have a very good cadre of Police officers who have the heart for the nation and awarding them on Police Day motivates them and their colleagues to work even harder.
Happy Police Day!!!