Malawi Police vows to tackle crime
President Peter Mutharika has vowed that his administration will crackdown on crime.
Speaking Thursday when he presided over the pass out parade of police recruits at the Limbe Police Training School, Mutharika said one strategy his government would use is that of recruiting and training many police officers.
He said his administration intends to train 10,000 more police officers in a bid to reduce the current ratio of police officers to citizens to the required 1 officer to 500 citizens.
He described the current ratio of 1 to 1,300 as unacceptable and a contributing factor to the upsurge of crime in the country.
“I am very concerned by the state of security in this country. The country has been experiencing serious crimes. The killing and abduction of albinos remains a problem in our country,” he said.
Mutharika said the increase in the number of police officers is in line with his reform agenda of, which among others entails, guaranteeing security to the citizens, businesses and investors.
In his speech, Inspector General of Police Lexten Kachama confessed that the recent trends of police involvement in criminal activities was damaging the reputation of the service and warned of punitive measures of those involved.
“I caution all of you, including serving officers, to refrain from corruption and criminal activities. My office will take action on any one going against the law,” he said.
He told the recruits to be tough against criminals and to meet the security demands in the country.
Kachama said the Malawi Police Service is exploring a working relationship with the University of Malawi to design a degree programme that would complement security studies at the Mzuzu University in an effort to build capacity for officers to respond to emerging trends in security issues as they await to have an academy.
He also urged government to address the issue of salaries and risk allowances in the quest to motivate police officers.
Earlier, Minister of Home Affairs and Home security, Atupele Muluzi said the last 100 of the 150 vehicles which the government has procured for the police will be handed over soon.
Apart from the recruits, veteran police officers including Deputy Inspectors Generals Rodney Jose and Duncan Mwapasa received medals for their dedicated service.
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