Zambia army officers batter corrupt traffic officers

TWO Zambia Army personnel belted and punched five traffic police officers manning a check point following a misunderstanding over traffic regulations broke out between the parties soon after the soldiers were ordered to stop on Los Angeles Road.

Among them were three female officers and two males, with one of the females sustaining a deep cut on the forehead.

The incident happened at Lusaka’s City Market near Saro Agric Equipment Soweto branch when the solders driving a private car towards Kanyama Township were stopped and shortly after that a scuffle ensued over traffic regulations and road equipments for motorists.

By press time Police Spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela was still waiting for the report from the Los Angeles Police Station where the incident was reported.

“I am still waiting for our colleagues (police officers) to furnish me with that information on what transpired and I cannot comment nor confirm something that I do not information about. I have just been told that officers are still in the meeting with the bus drivers,” she said.

In the midst of the differences, one of the female police officers grabbed and held the one army officer by the collar of military uniform and attempted to lift him high.

According to the eyewitnesses, it was at this stage when brawl broke out and army officers reacted angrily, punching down and flogging traffic officers using their military belts.

After an assault on the police traffic officers, the solders jumped on their private car and drove to Los Angeles Police Station when the incident was reported.

Few minutes later, a military truck ferrying officers to Kanyama Township after knocking from work arrived and parked at the scene, an indication that the two soldiers earlier involved in the fight informed their colleagues about the incident.

This reporter witnessed that at that moment, some military personnel could not wait for the traffic officers to finish their explanation, but went straight away to causing more pain and problems on them.

The incident which attracted scores of marketeers, street vendors, commuters retiring from their day to day businesses caused traffic jam on Los Angeles Road while thieves took advantage of the situation to snatch valuables from spectators.

One of the onlookers remarked: “It is very embarrassing for the men and women in uniform to be fighting in public like this. Who is going to respect them if they can not respect themselves?”