Zambia police says ready for presidential election

The police in Zambia said on Tuesday that they were ready to ensure that peace prevails as the southern African nation holds a presidential election next week.

Stella Libongani, the Inspector-General of the Zambia Police said the police command has mobilized enough officers to ensure that peace prevails in the run-up to the Jan. 20 election and refuted reports that the police have failed to deal with pockets of violence witnessed during campaigns.

The police, she said, have so far made 70 percent of arrests in cases where violence has been reported, adding that this was evidence that the police were on top of things.

The police command, she said, has increased the number of police presence in areas prone to violence such as Lusaka, the country's capital and the Copperbelt Province while patrols have been intensified in all parts of the country.

But a civil society organization has said the current pockets of violence if not handled properly may lead to voter apathy.

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) said it anticipates voter apathy due to pockets of violence witnessed so far and accused the police of failing to deal with the violence.

Macdonald Chipenzi, the organization's executive director said the police have breached the country's constitution by failing to deal with the violence because the constitution mandates them to maintain law and order.

"Violence is like a cancer and it is a source of concern to us. If pockets of violence continue it may lead to voter apathy because people will be afraid to go out and vote for fear of violence," he said.

Zambia will hold a presidential election on Jan. 20 necessitated by the death of President Michael Sata last October.

Eleven political parties are participating in the election. Endi