“SHOOT TO KILL” COMMAND CONDEMNED The Monitor and Digest newspaper of Friday October 17-Monday 20, 2008 reported that the order given by the Inspector General of Police, Ephraim Mateyo, to Zambia police officers to shoot and kill dangerous criminals was condemned by the Action Network Advisory on Small Arms. Earlier in the week, the Inspector General of Police had directed police officers countrywide to shoot and kill dangerous armed criminals because the Zambian law allows doing so. The Inspector General also said it was the duty of the police to ensure that dangerous criminals were wiped out of circulation. He further saidthat “I am promoting police officers who gun down dangerous criminals”.

The paper reported that the Action Network Advisory on Small Arms Executive Director, Charles Mulenga, said the order violated such laws as the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials. The order also violated the Police Act which clearly states that the use of firearms by the police “shall be as far as possible to disable and not to kill”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Site Designed and hosted by ZAMNET Communication Systems Limited.  Webservices © 2008