Malawi Police has grown tremendously –IG Dzonzi
Malawi Inspector General (IG) of Police, Loti Dzonzi, says the Malawi Police Service (MPS) has registered tremendous growth in both human resources and skills in fighting crime and maintaining public security.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) prior to the commemorations of Malawi Police Day which falls on October 15, Dzonzi said unlike twenty years ago, MPS today has more officers with university degrees and that the law-enforcers’ working relationship with the public has increased.
“Twenty years ago there were only about twenty officers with a university degree but today we have more than 140 officers with university degrees, some with Master’s and three officers with PhD,” explained Dzonzi, adding that the service also has 5 fully qualified lawyers.
On whether the Malawi police was moving fast enough to keep in pace with the growing crime rate in the country, the IG said the MPS had increased its officers’ skills to adapt to the changes in crime pattern and ensure public security.
“Malawians are going through tremendous social and political changes and since a human being is dynamic in nature, with a global world where information travels fast, criminals are getting new ideas,” observed Dzonzi. “But as the police, we are also adapting to these changes by increasing our officers’ knowledge and skills to ensure that we fight crime in the country.”
The IG said the police had currently recruited 1,200 people who were about to go for training and that these, when they graduate, would enhance the police’s visibility in the country’s locations and streets to ensure law and order.
Police in the country started on October 15, 1921 as Nyasaland Police Force and it later changed to Malawi Police Force in June 1964 upon attaining independence.
After multi-party democracy in 1994, Malawi Police changed from being a force to a service and in 1995 the law enforcement agency underwent a reform which brought it closer to the citizens through the introduction of community policing, among other things.
According to Dzonzi, community policing has since its introduction strengthened the relationship between the police and the public unlike before when the police worked in isolation.
The commemoration of the Malawi Police Day on Wednesday is the first in 37 years, according to the IG, but he said it would, from now on, be observed every year to allow MPS reflect on the years back, present and future; and to also allow the law-enforcers conduct public awareness of what they do.
President Prof. Peter Mutharika is scheduled to grace the first event in 37 years which will also mark 93 years of policing in the country.
The event will be characterized by traditional dances, police parade, display of pavilions and awarding of medals to a number of officers for various achievements in the service.
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Number 5: Mapiyamulupale, thanks for asking to know the particulars of what was the youngest policeman in the entire British Commonwealth. His name was Number 1353 Mateyo Numero. Both his father and grandfather were in the band formation of the Nyasaland Police Force which began at the end of 1939 for purposes of enhancing force morale as WorldWar began. Obviously, he grew up in police camp and like most boys was most captivated when the band was practicing. There was an instrument that old policemen had difficulty playing and of the young boys who tried it, Mateyo was the best… Read more »
Musatisokose mbava a police inu tatopananu ananuwo tiwaombela pa galaundi timakhala tofooka tokulila mulaini..corruption yokhayokha basi aaaa!
From 1964 to 1994, The Malawi Police Force might as well have been called “The Kamuzu Banda Police Force”. No kidding. They, and the MYP were like a personal protection force; to wipe out any opposition, real or imagined, to HKB. It was as if brutality was the first qualification interviewers looked for in candidates. That force would not even let an ant climb up the Ngazi’s legs! The impact of having educated police is generally, but not always, more civilized service. But are these educated officers having an impact on crime reduction in our country? Or are they just… Read more »
We now have police which is busy on the road demanding handouts “zam’manja” . Roadblocks every fifty meters , where on earth and over my dead body are we heading too ?
Why is APM surprised with grime levels. You have almost all police officers as trafic police in Blantyre and Limbe area. How on earth you can have traffic police road block every 1 km in Blantyre. Can these police officers be deployed to beef up security. This IG said that if any policeman is found akuzunza kapena kuombera wakuba azaimbidwa mulandu. Police officers are not happy with this IG he is very soft for an IG. Replace him with a strong person.
Akuba inu mbuzi za anthu! Kumangomanga aphawi inu a cash gate ali phee! Mwalembaso ana anu osaphuzira aja 1200 azibaso tizionesana misewumu!
Number 2 is well placed, he could have written a very interesting article if he was the writer. Thanks for opening our eyes. But mention the 12 year old Police recruit that time.
Self contradiction! Why then there is increased crime rate? Bank robberies, car jacking,…….
Koma a Police amenewa kuba !!!!!!! eshiiiii. A Trafic……….
Nyasaland Police from which the Malawi Police Service has evolved started on 5th October 1921 and NOT 15th October as intimated in the article. On 6th July it changed name to Malawi Police Force and celebrated its Golden Jubilee on 5th October 1971. Women were introduced among its cadres in the same year including a marine and airwing branch. In the same year 1971, the last white Commissioner Mr P Long handed over the Force leadership to the first Malawian Commissioner, Mr Mac Kamwana in December 71.At the turn of multiparty proposals were made and swiftly agreed to for the… Read more »
Damn right.. My mother was one of the first recruits. Sweet history