The governance and development advocates Zambia Executive Director Elias Mulenga has questioned the professionalism of a Zambia National Service – ZNS Officer involved in the shooting of a 15-year-old Juvenile in the Copperbelt Province.
Recently, the Zambia National Service – ZNS officer in Kankoyo Township of Mufulira district during an anti-mealie meal smuggling operation, killed a 15-year-old juvenile identified as Chrispin Bunda after shooting at the deceased.
According to the police report, the deceased was killed after a ZNS officer used live ammunition to disperse people who were obstructing the officers from searching their premises suspected to be harboring mealie meal destined for the democratic republic of Congo – DRC.
This is not the first time law enforcement agencies shot dead a member of the general public as a similar incident happened in 2020 when the late State Prosecutor Nsama Nsama and a late UPND supporter were killed by a 25-year-old Police Officer Constable Fanwell Nyundu of then Matero Police Camp.
Nsama and Kaunda were shot dead near the Cabinet Office as police Officers dispersed the then-opposition UPDN supporters who had gone to offer solidarity to the opposition President of the UPND who was being questioned at Police Headquarters in Lusaka.
Governance and Development advocates Zambia Executive Director Elias Mulenga, has since called on law enforcement agencies to apply professionalism in the way they execute state duties especially when their execution involves members of the general public.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Mulenga said that the officers should avoid executing their duties using live ammunition and engage members of the general public cordially.
Mulenga expressed sadness on the continued untimely demise of innocent souls and has since emphasized the need to protect Zambia’s peace.
He has also called on members of the general public to follow laid down procedures and comply with the law whenever they are approached by state security.
“We are saddened and mourning with the family and the state for the loss of life in Mufulira. The whole incident happened due to a confrontation by members of the community and the officers from the Zambia National Service. Our officers need to apply professionalism in the way they execute state duties especially when it comes to meeting members of the community who are being subjected to all sorts of forms in finding what to put on the table, especially with the high cost of living that the country and the world at large is currently facing,” he said.
“We wish to urge members of the community to always comply whenever they are approached by state security. Equally, the state should engage members of the community and not always apply the law using live bullets. You can meet members of the community who are dressed up in civilian uniforms and engage them so that you can have a cordial relationship. Zambia is a peaceful country; we don’t want to see blood. That blood of that boy who has been killed will be crying and the onus will be on us as Zambians who are citizens. Let’s ensure that we preserve the peace and apply the law. Residents should also ensure that they follow laid down procedures and be in subjection to the people that are taking the lead of the nation,’ said Mulenga.
