By Isaac Salima:
The Malawi Police Service (MPS) has reintroduced its emergency service, dubbed ‘997 Rapid Response’, in a move it says will enable it to swiftly respond to emergencies and acts of robbery.
This comes barely a week after some members of Parliament queried Homeland Security Minister Peter Mukhito on why the initiative was phased out. The lawmakers said this after Kamuzu University of Health Sciences lecturer and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital medical doctor Victoria Bobe was shot dead by thugs in Chigumula Township, Blantyre City.
The service was introduced around 2006 but was later abandoned in 2016 due to challenges such as limited resources.
MPS spokesperson Lael Chimtembo said the new emergency service would enable members of the general public to call for police officers from their nearest stations.
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“We hope that this will enable us to achieve our goals by swiftly responding to calls. For instance, when community members from Ndirande Township [in Blantyre] call us, officers from Ndirande Police Station will rush to the scene. If not, they will be able to inform their colleagues at Blantyre Police Station. That is how the 997 Rapid Response will be operating,” Chimtembo told ‘Kulinji’ programme on Times Radio Wednesday.
He added that they had addressed challenges that rocked the service before it was stopped.
Chimtembo also said they had issues with network providers, which they have addressed now.
“We promise that our services will be different now. We have also put in place measures to locate the one requiring the service,” the police mouthpiece said.
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“We have bought a new fleet of vehicles which we have distributed to some of our police stations. This is the first phase and we will be going into the second phase. These vehicles will solely be used for the rapid response programme,” Chimtembo said.
He further said the service would presently be rolled out in all the country’s cities and some selected districts.
“We currently have 19 centres and, from today [yesterday], people in areas such as Kawale, Lumbazi, Lingadzi and Kanengo [Lilongwe]— and in Lilongwe Central East—can access the service at Mponela [Dowa].
“And, in the South, we have Blantyre, Limbe, Soche, Chileka, Bangwe, Chilomoni and Ndirande. In South East [Region], we have Thyolo and Chikwawa. And, in the Northern Region, we have Mzuzu and Karonga while in the Eastern Region, we have Zomba and Mangochi,” he said.
Chimtembo added that the programme proved to be a success when it was implemented as it culminated in a reduction in the crime rate.
Security expert Aubrey Kabisala lauded the development.
“Our colleagues in other countries are way ahead in terms of their response to emergencies and security concerns. So, I am convinced with what they are saying, [to the effect] that the service is now rebranded,” he said.
