Zambia assures foreigners of safety

The police in Zambia on Thursday assured foreign nationals of their safety and that there was no need to panic on the country's security situation.

The assurance comes in the wake of a security alert issued by the United States (US) Embassy warning its citizens to be alert following increased criminal attacks on foreigners.

The U.S. Embassy said Zambia was not safe for American citizens due to the high number of criminals.

Two Americans were raped and robbed at gunpoint by four suspected criminals last Saturday in one of the suburbs of Lusaka, the Zambian capital. The incident came barely a month after another similar incident last month where four foreigners were attacked and two females sexually assaulted.

While acknowledging that the foreigners have fallen victims to criminal attacks in recent weeks, Lusaka Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga said it was unfair to indicate that the Zambian capital was not safe for foreign nationals.

The police chief acknowledged that police have recorded cases of sexual assault and banditry on some foreigners but that it should not be taken as an everyday situation as the incidents were isolated, according to a statement released.

She has however appealed to local and foreign residents that police will intensify night patrols. Endit