The police officer allegedly demanded bribes from the four leaders, who were travelling using travel documents instead of passports.
Unable to meet the bribe demand, the leaders were detained from 6:48 am to 7:32 am.
Pastor Gray Abraham Kapanga, one of the detained leaders, described the incident as “unfortunate and a sign of how far we have gone with corruption”.
He explained that immigration officers had stamped all their documents and given them the go-ahead.
However, while passing through a gate manned by police officers, one officer stopped their vehicle and demanded to see their documents.
Despite providing an invitation letter, four passports and four travel documents, the officer accused them of having fake travel documents and demanded money to let them pass.
Pastor Ellen Joseph confirmed that they were detained for over 30 minutes at the border post.
Kapanga added: “Although the police officer’s two colleagues described the documents as genuine, he insisted they were fake and they should give him money.”
The detained leaders included Kapanga, Joseph, Pastor Getrude Kalinde, assistant pastors Jean Pankuku and Gerson Mchenga.
South West police spokesperson Joseph Sauka and national police spokesperson Peter Kalaya were yet to comment on the incident.
Source:NPL
