Zambia’s police force has suspended four officers caught collecting bribes in the capital, Lusaka.

Provincial minister Bowman Lusambo carried out an impromptu check of roadblocks on Thursday and said he had caught them red-handed.

The police say the officers had mounted an illegal roadblock in an industrial area of the city and were charging motorists without issuing them with receipts.

Police chief Kakoma Kanganja announced the officers had been suspended with immediate effect and investigations into the matter had begun.

He wanted the public to know that the police had introduced a “direct deposit system” for fees and fines to go directly into bank accounts to curb corruption.

Zambia’s police force is perceived to be one of the most corrupt institutions in the country.