HOME Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jack Mwiimbu has warned traffic police officers against turning the nation’s roads into cash points through the mounting of unauthorised checkpoints.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Mwiimbu said the growing trend of illegal police roadblocks was not only frustrating to motorists but also endangering lives.
The Minister explained that the only checkpoints that would remain on the roads are the official security checkpoints that are clearly marked and sanctioned by the police command.
Unlike the illegal ones, these designated points, he said, would be manned by officers displaying their name tags and service numbers at all times to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Minister noted that unauthorised checkpoints were not only linked to harassment of motorists but also to corrupt practices such as extortion which, he said, contributed to congestion and a breakdown of confidence in law enforcement.
To restore order and public trust, the Minister directed the police command to ensure immediate implementation of reforms that include proper checkpoint designation and use of smart policing technology such as that already employed by the Road Transport and Safety Agency.
“Together, we can create a safer, more efficient and more respectful environment for all road users. Let us work hand in hand to build a Zambia where our roads are secure, our institutions are trusted and our citizens are treated with dignity,” the Minister said.
The latest directives by the Home Affairs Minister comes hot on the heels of Minister Elisha Matambo’s roadside scolding of a traffic cop on the Copperbelt, a viral incident that laid bare public frustration over unnecessary roadblocks by traffic officers.
By George Musonda
Kalemba October 4, 2025
