Private Security Association of Zambia has called on government to consider introducing a Statutory Instrument (SI) which will give the association powers to regulate the industry.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Association President Francis Mukuka said it is currently difficult for the association to control the industry because it has no legal backing to do so.
Mr. Mukuka stated that the association needs government support because Security companies are helping to create employment for the youth and other members of the public.
“For us to work and for us to manage challenges from a security guard to a security company and also to the client, what we need is the SI. If they can give us an Act of Parliament, if it becomes law, we will have the muscle to control and regulate these security companies.”
“As at now our hands are tied, we do not have the muscle to control the industry. So the only thing that we are waiting for from the government, is if they can give us an Act of Parliament. Security companies are creating employment, and government cannot create alone without involving us. We need their support and we also need to support them in terms of creating employment,” Mr. Mukuka stated.
He added that by coming with an Act of Parliament, it will be easy for the association to turn the industry into a desired job market.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mukuka said the association is slowly changing the mindset of majority Zambians who believe that security guards should be over 55years old who joined the industry after retirement from government service.
He added that the industry now employs we have changed from a watchman to security officer, It’s now grade 12 school leavers and from colleges are the ones joining the industry as security officers,
“We have changed the attitude of Security guards from old days where the industry could only employ retired soldiers or retired teachers as security guards, but this time we have changed the mindsets of Zambians, we have young people joining the security industry.”
“Grade 12 school leavers and those from colleges are the ones joining the industry as security officers, we are also compiling a list of all security companies across the country because our aim is to bring sanity and professionalism in the industry and above all to help government create employment to the majority unemployed youths,” he added.
Security Association requests for SI to regulate the sector
