Dear Editor,
I WOULD like to bring to the attention of the Secretary to the Cabinet, Anti-Corruption Commission and other relevant government wings on the blatant theft of public money by some civil servants.
I hope Inspector General of Police Madam Stella Libongani will read this letter.
On February 1, 2013 I went to Lusaka Central police station anti-motor vehicle theft unit to report the loss of my white book.
An officer referred me to the Boma to get an affidavit form.
At the Boma, which is near the central police station, I was told to pay KR20 for a blank form and KR50 for a completed one.
Because I was in a hurry I opted for a completed one.
Within a few minutes the document was availed to me properly stamped somewhere within the corridors of the Boma.
I was not issued with any receipt.
Back to the anti-motor vehicle theft unit at the central police station, I joined a queue of 12 other people who were in front of me.
I was quite impressed with the speed at which we were served. However, I noticed that although clients were paying KR100 for the police report, none of us was given a receipt!
When my turn came I paid the mandatory fee and asked for a receipt.
Answer? The officers told me that the police report was a receipt itself. Now 12 people were served that particular day within a time frame of roughly one hour, meaning the officer collected KR1,200 within an hour without issuing a single receipt.
This roughly means these officers have been making approximately KR8,400 (K8.4 million) each day.
How do they account for that money if no receipts are given to the people who pay? Is it not possible that some junior police officers could be earning far more money than their superiors, including the Inspector General herself?
Consider that this is being done at all other stations and government offices, how much is the government losing to corrupt public servants? Someone must investigate this.
EVANS ZIMBA,
LUSAKA.