adminArron Nyamayaro
POLICE have been urged to engage private security firms to train security guards in an effort to curb armed robberies.
Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Kazembe Kazembe, noted with concern that armed robberies continue to be committed in broad daylight.
“There is a need for police to check and monitor private security companies and see if their guards are professionally trained,” said Minister Kazembe.
“Some private security firms have been employing their untrained relatives and deploy them to duties. Police, as law enforcers, are expected to closely monitor such private firms, not violating their rights, but engage them in an effort to curb increasing number of armed robberies.
“Criminals continue to target individuals and organisations with large sums of foreign currency. This derails Government’s efforts to lure foreign direct investment as this projects the country as an unsafe investment destination.
“While I appreciate the concerted efforts that have been made by the organisation thus far to tame this tide, I cannot overemphasise the urgent need to totally wipe out this crime.
“On our part as Ministry, we have continued to lobby the government for increased support as we seek to reinforce police efforts,” he said.
The Minister also expressed concern about drug and substance abuse, saying the country has been turned into a consumer as well as a transit route for illicit drugs such as crystal methametraphine, cocaine, dagga and bronclear.
He said a total of 4 169 cases involving drugs were recorded between January and June 2022 compared to 3 200 for the corresponding period in 2021.
Minister Kazembe said this unprecedented level of drug and substance abuse requires a holistic multi-sectoral approach in order to keep the situation under control.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter