20 November 2008
editorial
IT is the festive season again and with all the merry- making and glad tidings that come with the ending of the year- the joys of Christmas and the grand anticipations of the new year - also come the not-too pleasant realities of the rise in the crime rate and other related vices.
Of late there has been a sharp increase in armed robberies within and outside Lusaka, especially incidences where vehicles have been snatched at gunpoint. Something drastic needs to be done about it immediately.
When everyone should be settling down to heave a sigh of relief after what has been one of the most grueling years in the history of Zambia, the death of a sitting president and the holding of a presidential by-election, when the country should be looking out for a little good news, the newspapers are awash with headlines of hideous crimes perpetuated by gangs terrorising innocent citizens.
What is now becoming clear is that the communities where these bandits live and interact have come to realise that they can actually do something positive about rooting this growing cancer from society instead of abetting crime by looking the other way.
Today there are a number of cases where, members of the public have tipped the police and other law-abiding citizens about organised crime bands or actual crime before it actually takes place. Such must be encouraged and authorities can do well by putting up toll free phones in strategic places accessible to all.
This new culture of alertness by Zambians is good as it quickly rids these elements from communities thereby creating safer living conditions for everybody.
It is possible to have a crime free society or at least bring crime down to manageable levels minimising loss of life in the process.
Police should also be commended for being vigilant.
They however are unable to do a good job especially if they do not get the full support of the public in curbing crime.
What should be encouraged is the setting up of neighborhood watch groups in communities, which, together with local police, are able to keep tabs on any suspicious looking people and activities in their areas.
The slaying of five dangerous criminals by police should serve as a warning from law enforcement agencies that crime does not pay and that good will always prevail against evil.
Let all law abiding citizens be even more alert and report all suspicious looking people to police before crimes are committed. In that way both public and private property and lives can be protected.
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