Pubdate: Sun, 03 Apr 2011 Source: Post, The (Zambia) Copyright: Post Newspapers 2011 Contact: http://www.postzambia.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3160 Author: Edwin Mbulo ANGLICANS DEMAND APOLOGY OVER DEC'S SHOOTINGS THE Anglican Diocese of Lusaka says it is greatly dismayed by the law enforcement agencies' lack of respect and honour for human life. In a press statement released by the Anglican Diocese of Lusaka, Diocese Bishop David Njovu is demanding an apology from the government over the shooting of a seven-year-old boy in Garden compound on Tuesday by Drug Enforcement Commission officers. "The people they are supposed to protect are the ones they are killing in cold blood without shame," Bishop Njovu stated. He stated that citizens were supposed to feel the peace and freedom of the country in the presence of law enforcement agencies. "But we are now being killed by our own protectors. We therefore demand an apology and pledge from government that this will not be repeated especially that we are praying for peaceful elections," he stated. Bishop Njovu added that if the police and other law enforcement agencies behaved in a professional and respectable manner, citizens would gain confidence in the assurance of peace and order. "The police and other law enforcement agencies have in the recent past shown their lack of professionalism by being trigger-happy as exhibited in the Mongu shooting, Mazabuka killing and now the little innocent child killed in cold blood," Bishop Njovu stated. He added that the Church expressed its condemnation of the barbaric act which was the root cause of society's loss of respect and confidence in the law enforcement agencies. "This is unacceptable in a land which has been independent for over four decades. This is a period when the police should have been able to gain special skills in investigation and apprehending of the offenders," Bishop Njovu stated. Bishop Njovu further requested the government to bring to book all murderous officers involved in the shooting and killing of innocent and defenseless children. "As much as we believe in life after death, we believe in life before death and it is the duty of the government to protect life," stated Bishop Njovu. A seven-year-old boy died while a girl aged 16, sustained a gunshot wound after DEC officers fired live bullets during an operation last Tuesday. The two boys were shot by officers who had gone to the compound to conduct a search for cannabis dealers. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.