Lilongwe council, Police cash in from ‘anti-pee’ campaign
Lilongwe City Council in conjunction with Malawi Police during the week embarked on a campaign to apprehend people who urinate in undesignated places in the city.
However, the exercise has been marred by reports that the officers from both institutions have seized the opportunity by cashing in from the exercise.
One of the apprehended persons, who did not want to be named, said in an interview that while the exercise was good, it was sad that the money he, along with others paid as fine was shared amongst the officers executing the operation.
“During detention, I was not alone, they asked us to pay them K5, 000 each but I did not have such money. I had K2, 000 only in my pocket as my transport money to Kasungu.
“For fear of being locked in custody, I tried to call my friend to send me the money via Airtel money,” said the man.
He said he did not have the money to pay for a toilet that is why he decided to help himself in the bamboo shrubs near Lilongwe Bridge, hence his apprehension by the police and city authorities.
“What pained me is that they were sharing our money amongst themselves after they released us,” he claimed, advising authorities on the need for adequate sensitisation on the matter as well as having several paying toilets in the city at an affordable charge.
Another eye witness at Lilongwe Town Hall where the incident took place, who also opted for anonymity, claimed that the day before (Tuesday), was worse as both police officers and city officials shared amongst themselves money that was paid by a number of offenders as fines.
“Yesterday it was worse because they (city and police officers) detained a lot of people from morning to lunch time and when they were asked to pay the money, they also shared it amongst themselves.
“I was thinking that all the people they apprehended would be taken to police but they later released them after paying the money,”
He further said after catching those that are found urinating on the open and undesignated places, the police and city authorities ask them to pay K5, 000 for them to be released.
When asked to comment on the matter, Public Relations Officer for Lilongwe Police Station, Kingsley Dandaula, said was aware of the campaign but not of allegations of police officers sharing money.
He said what he knows is that urinating along the river bank is disorderly and an offence for which culprits normally pay a fine of K5, 000 each to the city council and get their receipt immediately.
On issues of police officers using pepper spray and beating the suspects, Dandaula said he needed to find out, saying the culprits do not need to be beaten or harassed anyhow.
He further advised people who are involved in such offences to ensure that they have received their general receipt (GR) once they pay the fine.
However, Lilongwe City Council Public Relations Officer, Tamara Chafunya, did not pick her phone call for several times when this reporter tried to contact her on the matter.
It is common sight to see people that pass by Lilongwe Town Hall in the city going towards Lilongwe Bridge and those from the opposite direction helping themselves under trees, walls or in bamboo shrubs along the Lilongwe River.
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DZIKO LA MALAWI NDI LA MASIYE.IT HAS NO LEADERSHIP.POLICE CAN LOOT AND SHARE.ZOONA?
This is nonsense! Lilongwe city hasn’t public toilets and yet your punishing innocent people ? Useless Government
Bring public toilets first and start arresting people who urinating public places that will be better.
if you dont want the police and the city council officials to share the spoil then this barbaric behaviour. kapena gula ma dyper udzingokodzera momo.
Let’s just allow policemen and council officials to pocket whatever they collect from these disgusting uncivilised people who pee everywhere. I’m fact, during Kamuzu days this was unheard of. It was even normal to stone such low lives. Lack of toilets shouldn’t be an excuse. I also live in the same city and have never peed in bushes. Also, you’ll find out that most of these culprits are men. Are you saying there are public toilets for women in the city? As a woman, I am in support of more public toilets, more rubbish bins, more leisure parks with seating,… Read more »
If certain places around the city have been identified as places where people regularly relieve themselves, then free public toilets should be sited there. If there are no public toilets, it is not right that people are fined for relieving themselves in the open. What goes for Lilongwe should apply in other towns and cities around the country. It is a mark of a civilised society that public toilets are made available to its citizens.
anti- fart so.
mma restraurant ndi dzuwa ili ukadya cakudya kumasowa kokakodza ndi kunya komwe. thats our malawi 50+ years mu town mpoanda cimbudzi. full stop. zoona kukanika kumanga cimbudzi ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
koma ndithu? ena timawaona akutulukila ka chile kali kuseli nseu wakuseli kwa british high commisioner – chile chile chile mu capital city-city centre. chile ku city centre mbwrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
MALAWI AT 50+
Hopless City! Hopless Police! ACB, arrest this guys as well, who steal from innocent people with no alternative than the bush! The question is now, who addressed Trump with his speech on the first place when he said African Countries are “Sh..h..le Countries “! The ordinary people , who have to seek release in the bamboo…, or our corrupt and criminal authorities? My advice towards the authorities: If you are looking for more of this kind income generating activities, go a few years back and take on what Mr Chaponda was suggesting, about fining people for producing bad smell in… Read more »
Open peeing in LL city a growing problem which must be addressed but not an opportunity for corrupt officers to cash in. Their motivation is clear here
So everyone at LL city council is corrupt. Not long ago city council employees were accusing the mayor of being corrupt but this is clear that they are also corrupt themselves. How is the city enforcing anti pee laws yet there are no free public restrooms available? The only place I can go to relieve myself while in the city is Gateway mall. Their restrooms always have water and are always clean. Bravo to Gateway mall management! I wish there were a few more places like that in our city.