Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba has directed all Deputy Commissioners of Police in Provinces to ensure that they devise mechanisms aimed at averting harassment of people in markets and bus stations under their charge.
The police boss says he has observed with concern the continued reports of harassment of members of the public in some markets and bus stations by some suspected political cadres.
In a media statement, Mr. Kajoba says one such intervention will be the deployment of police officers to markets and bus stations as a proactive measure.
“This will enable us to respond to people’s concerns without delay hence protecting traders from those cadres who are trying to resist change in the running of markets and bus stations.
It has become a practice that whenever cadres notice the absence of police officers, they begin harassing the public and only escape the moment police officers are called in to restore order” Mr. Kajoba has observed.
He has warned that this trend should not continue on that reactive route and has appealed to traders to report individuals who are in a habit of harassing them to police.
He further said officers who will be deployed and should always pay fees to officials from the local authorities and not cadres.
“My appeal to traders is that they should report individuals who are in a habit of harassing them to police officers who will be deployed and should always pay fees to officials from the local authorities and not cadres” he said.
