Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Serah Makondesa Chilora
Published on 2024-04-13 04:49:38
President Lazarus Chakwera has recently lauded the efforts of the Malawi Police Service for the exceptional security services they provide throughout the country. He emphasized the importance of having a strong and effective police force in maintaining law and order within the nation. These comments were made by Chakwera during his presence at the Police Pass-Out Parade held at the Limbe Police Training School in Blantyre.
Chakwera encouraged the newly graduated men and women in uniform to carry out their duties with utmost diligence and dedication. He reminded them that any deviation from the prescribed code of conduct would result in legal consequences. He urged them not to misuse their uniforms for personal gain, emphasizing that their primary responsibility is to serve and protect the citizens of Malawi.
Since assuming office in 2020, Chakwera’s administration has prioritized strengthening the human resource capacity of the Malawi Police Service by recruiting an additional 6,000 law enforcers. He highlighted the discrepancy between the ideal ratio of police officers to citizens and the actual number of officers present in the country. Chakwera acknowledged the need for more officers and announced plans to recruit an additional 2,000 police officers in the coming months.
Furthermore, Chakwera stressed the noble nature of being a police officer and reminded the graduating officers of the sacrifices they made to reach this point. He emphasized the importance of maintaining high levels of discipline to uphold the integrity and reputation of the police force. Chakwera assured the officers of the government’s commitment to providing the necessary resources and support for them to carry out their duties effectively.
In addressing the issue of officer remuneration, Chakwera urged Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma to collaborate with the finance department to ensure that police officers receive fair compensation. He criticized the practice of officers resorting to collecting bribes on the roads and called for appropriate measures to address this issue.
Minister Zikhale Ng’oma echoed Chakwera’s sentiments and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to recruiting more police officers to meet international standards. He announced plans to establish a Law Enforcement Academy to equip officers with advanced training to combat increasingly sophisticated crimes. He urged the new recruits to fulfill their duty diligently to maintain security, law, and order in the country.
Inspector General of Police Merlyn Yolamu emphasized the significance of the recent recruitment drive in increasing the police force’s numbers, particularly in preparation for the upcoming 2025 general elections. She highlighted the improved police-to-citizen ratio resulting from the recruitment efforts, demonstrating progress towards meeting international standards.
Currently, Malawi boasts a total of 19,570 police officers, reflecting the government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the capacity and effectiveness of the Malawi Police Service. The government aims to continue supporting the police force to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens.
Read the original article on The Times
