Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
President Edgar Lungu has pledged government’s total support to the modernization of the Zambia Police Service and other security wings in their operations for the benefit of the Zambian people.
Speaking during the commissioning of the DNA analysis machine for the Police Forensic department purchased at a total cost of K2.4 million in Lusaka today, President Lungu in a speech read on his behalf by Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila urged Police Inspector General Stella Libongani to utilize the equipment to ensure timely analysis of samples and placement into a DNA database of all cases analyzed and results posted.
President Lungu has also urged the Police command to ensure the equipment is taken care of by ensuring it is regularly serviced.
He stresses that only qualified officers should have access to the machine, adding that abuse will not be tolerated.
President Lungu also noted that Police have a serious limited office space at Police Headquarters because administration and operational officers are accommodated at the same premises
He says in this regard government will ensure the completion of the National Forensic Laboratory in Lusaka west in order to alleviate office space challenges for the Police.
President Lungu says government has engaged ZamChin Construction Company Limited to commence construction works of the National Forensic Laboratory.
Speaking earlier, Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani says through the DNA analysis Police hope to contribute to the criminal justice system by assisting the courts in establishing physical facts so that criminal and civil disputes are resolved without any doubt.
Ms Libongani has disclosed that Zambia is the first country in Africa to procure this kind of modern DNA analysis machine which is capable of producing results under two hours.