THERE is urgent need for the Zambia Police command to heed the various concerns raised by youths to look into the corruption involved in the recruitment exercise.
The Zambia Police Service should be in the forefront promoting transparency in their operations, especially with the public perception of being one of the most corrupt institutions.
Revelations by some youths that bribes as high as K3,000 are being paid to senior officers for them to be recruited should be a cause of worry as qualified persons are left out at the expense of those with money able to buy their way into the Zambia Police.
Jeff Munalula of Lusaka said his friend had to pay K3,000 to a senior officer to be recruited. He said it was unfortunate that the selection was not done on merit but a connection of an individual had or the money paid to certain individuals.
It will be important for the Police Command to weed out the practice at the recruitment level so that deserving and prospective officers are employment unlike recruiting officers who are already swarmed in corrupt activities.
Thus it would be important for members of the public with names of such officers involved in the vice to report them so that they could be punished.
Again as Zambia Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said, it would be wise for the members of the public to wary of those masquerading as police officers, who are getting colossal sums of money from unsuspecting and desperate civilians.
High employment levels have made some people to become sophisticated such that they want to cash in whenever an opportunity arises and even go to the extent of posing as police officers to make ends meet.
So much as people are desperate for jobs especially when it comes to the recruitment of police officers, they must also start learning to apply the law by reporting such masquerades to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
As another youth, Douglas Chiti said, it was discouraging that some officers were tarnishing the image of the Police Service by receiving bribes from desperate people looking for jobs.
“The Minister of Home Affairs should move in and ensure that the selection process is free and fair in order for all qualified Zambians to stand a chance of getting employed,” Mr Chiti said.
It is sad that many at times stories have been heard of how some unfit persons have been picked and graduate as officers and sadly three months down the line they are unable to carry out their functions.
This brings about hugs costs on government that has to start look for other people to recruit to replace those who become a liability as they are unable to discharge their duties.
This is one area the command should seriously look into to avoid compromising the safety and security of the nation. Only persons, who met the criteria and understands the job, should be picked just like is the case with other professionals.
So the onus will be on the Police Command to ensure that only fit and qualified people are picked as this is a sensitive area that should see officer’s engaged in a transparent manner  OPINION