Police short of vehicles, says MP

ONLY the National Capital District and Central command meet the staff-vehicle ratio of five personnel per vehicle in the police force, says Internal Security Minister Peter Tsiamalili Jnr.
Other divisional commands share between 7.6 and 10.8 staff per vehicle.
But he said efforts were being made to ensure that all divisional commands have a 5:1 ratio.
The constabulary has 1,159 vehicles around the country comprising 870 for operations and 289 for administration purposes.
The constabulary also has a helicopter, 46 boats, two 9.5m vessels and three patrol boats.
The total cost for vehicles include buying additional ones so that each command has a ratio of five staff per vehicle, more prison trucks and new vehicles to account for the growth in the force.
“Only the NCD and Central command currently meet the staff-to-vehicle ratio, with between 7.6 and 10.8 staff per vehicle in other commands,” he said.
“It is estimated that 34 more prison trucks are required for transporting those attending court.”
Tsiamalili said the cost of vehicle maintenance accounted for about 65 per cent of the total cost.
“For maritime vessels, the main cost relates to fuel, accounting for 65 per cent, followed by vessel replacement which costs at 28 per cent.
Annual costs vary from K7.1 million to K22.4 million for water vessels given the one-off replacement costs.
“For helicopter cost estimates, fuel accounts for 90 per cent of annual costs, with the one-off purchase of a new helicopter (K16.7 million) increasing costs significantly in 2021,” he said.