By Angela Mutambo | MakanDay Investigates
“The police are supposed to protect us, not charge us,” complained one farmer. “Now criminals are braver than ever.”
John Chibwe, a local farmer from Kopeka Village in Mpulungu District, Northern Zambia, recounted how he caught a thief stealing maize from his field—only for the suspect to walk free because police couldn’t respond.
“We called the village headman, who in turn contacted the police, but they said they had no transport,” Chibwe said. “We ended up letting the thief go with just a warning. What choice did we have? If this continues, people will stop reporting crimes altogether.”
In another village in the Northern Province, a man accused of rape also walked free—not because he was proven innocent, but because the victim’s family could not afford to cover the police’s transport costs.
“My daughter was defiled by someone we know in the village. We reported, but the police said we must find transport first. We don’t have money or a vehicle. The man is still here, walking around freely like nothing happened. How can we feel safe?”
Her identity has been withheld to protect her and the child.
Across rural Zambia, this is becoming the norm. Community members and traditional leaders say police officers working through the Community Crime Prevention Unit (CCPU) demand transport money every time they’re called to respond to crimes. When the money isn’t available, suspects are released or simply ignored.
“We’re now solving even serious crimes at home,” said one headman. “People are tired of begging the police.”
The CCPU was created to bring law enforcement closer to the people, especially in rural areas. However, officers say they’re poorly equipped – no vehicles, no fuel, and no operational funds. This has opened the door to informal charges and outright extortion.
Three CCPU officers interviewed for this investigation confirmed that demanding transport fees has become common practice. One officer admitted, “Sometimes we have no choice. Without transport, we can’t arrest anyone”.
The consequences are severe. Petty theft, farm invasions, and violent crimes are increasing, especially during the harvest season. Villagers say maize is being stolen directly from their fields, but reports to police are ignored unless transport fees are paid.
“We used to live peacefully, and most problems ended at the headman’s place,” said one villager. “Now crime is growing, and people no longer trust the police to intervene.”
Traditional leaders in at least three chiefdoms have raised the alarm, saying the police are failing their communities.
“We understand that the government is struggling with resources, but this has become corruption,” one headman said.
The provincial chairperson of the CCPU, Alfred Mwamba, acknowledged the issue, stating that while officers are dedicated, they’re working under extremely difficult conditions. He called on the Ministry of Home Affairs to urgently intervene with transport and logistical support.
Lucky Munkondya, Northern Division Commanding Officer, clarified that CCPU members are volunteers, recommended by community leaders, and work with passion to ensure peace in their areas.
She acknowledged that staffing shortages further limit police responsiveness, especially in newly created districts.
Munkondya noted that the current fuel supply does not match the growing number of police stations in the region. She added that the creation of new districts and additional police posts, without a corresponding increase in logistical and financial support, has placed further strain on police operations.
A police source familiar with fuel logistics revealed that Northern Province receives an allocation of 8,000 litres of fuel per month—6,000 litres of diesel and 2,000 litres of petrol. This amount, the source said, is not sufficient to sustain operations throughout the month.
The 2023 Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs report found rural stations are chronically under-resourced and underequipped.
The Police Public Complaints Authority records show many cases of police inaction linked to lack of transport and investigative resources.
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