ZAMBIA ARMY MILITARY POLICE CONFISCATE MILITARY REGALIA IN LUSAKA CRACKDOWN
By Buffalo Reporter
Lusaka
The Zambia Army Military Police yesterday launched a coordinated operation in Lusaka to confiscate military regalia from traders and members of the public.
According to Army Headquarters Provost Operations Officer, Captain Lucky Ngoma, various military boots and tactical gloves were seized and subsequently handed over to the Zambia Police Service.
Capt Ngoma stated that culprits found in possession of the regalia were also apprehended and handed over to the police for further handling.
The operation follows a renewed warning issued last week by the Zambia Army, cautioning the public against the use, wearing, possession, procurement, importation, or manufacturing of military regalia, or any semblance thereof.
In a press statement, Army Spokesperson Colonel Sydney Mwewa reminded citizens that such conduct constitutes a violation of Section 6 (a) of the State Security Act, Chapter 111 of the Laws of Zambia.
Colonel Mwewa stressed that the Military Police have been given strict instructions to confiscate any military regalia found in trading places and to apprehend individuals contravening the law.
The Zambia Army reiterated that military regalia is strictly reserved for serving members of the Defence Force of Zambia.
He emphasised that unauthorised use undermines both national security and the dignity of the uniform.
The crackdown will continue until the country is completely rid of all military regalia or any semblance thereof.
It has been long overdue. The police know those who were once called ‘commanders’ and those and their gangs wore military regalia including bullet vests, elbow and knee protectors. They possessed pepper spray too.
If the police did their job well, or were serious, they know which of the notorious ‘commanders’ even wore paramilitary uniforms, some as reserve police then.
Security is seriously compromised at those police stations and posts as the then ‘ Party Security’ know where firearms are secured and the routine.
To make matters worse, a lot of them were foreigners from some of the very violent neighbour’s. Commercer market habours a lot of them.
A lot of foreigners also obtained NRCs and passports during that time.
With those actions came the importation of violence that has never been seen in this country before, the importation of murderous rituals and organ harvesting.
Those violent ‘commanders’ who drove ‘Benghazi’ style landcuizers and brandished sophisticated guns hid no faces and their videos may still be available with some social and private media platforms like Muvi TV which, unfortunately is, for some reason or other limping now.
Police should up their game in investigations and, using a term introduced then, ‘smokeout’ the bad eggs of our society.