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The Zambia Wake-up Party has criticised government’s reported removal of security checkpoints across the country, saying the decision threatened internal security and public safety.
Party Secretary-General, Benson Katongo, told Zambia Monitor in an interview that the move raised “serious questions” about government’s commitment to protecting citizens and national resources.
Katongo said the country had previously experienced negative consequences when the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security dismantled checkpoints. “When the Ministry… previously dismantled checkpoints, we witnessed the unchecked movement of Mukula logs, one truck even being involved in an accident,” he said.
He alleged that a similar decision had enabled the illicit transfer of sugilite from Mansa, claiming that three tipper trucks later disappeared from a police station in Kabwe.
Katongo said the incidents illustrated the risks of weakening frontline security measures, especially at a time when illegal immigration was visibly increasing.
“Just last week, 157 illegal immigrants were arrested in Ndola, a figure that highlights the growing scale of this challenge. Removing checkpoints in such a climate is not only reckless but also undermines public confidence in the state’s ability to safeguard our borders and communities,” he said.
He urged the Ministry to clarify the rationale behind the reported removal and outline measures to guarantee national security.
“Security checkpoints are not mere inconveniences; they are vital tools in the fight against smuggling, trafficking and illegal migration. Without them, Zambia risks becoming increasingly vulnerable to criminal activities that threaten both our economy and our sovereignty,” Katongo said.
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