Malawi police work not to prevent accidents but to raise money – motorists
The traffic police in Malawi don’t work to prevent road accidents but to raise money, some motorists have said.
Describing the speed trap as a classical example, the motorists alleges that the traffic officers, who are often seen in ‘dark corners’ especially at Universal Trading Company along the Chipembere Highway in Blantyre, southern Malawi and other pertinent routes, use the speed detecting gadgets to make quick money not to reduce road accidents.
Speaking Thursday on condition of anonymity, one motorist further alleged that the traffic cops are corrupt and their conduct leaves a lot be desired.
The motorist, who bumped into the traffic cops and subsequently charged for exceeding the speed limit, observed that the traffic department is becoming the money making venture.
He said even if the vehicle one is driving has got all required certificates, the law enforcers still yearn for and find a fault on the vehicle until the owner gives them something.
“Much as I appreciate that the traffic department is very important, but the conduct of some officers is distressing and worrisome. They don’t even give a room for reasoning and when you try to poke some sense in them you are seen as difficult person and you end up being penalized severely,” said the motorist.
Another motorist, who had no kind words for the cops, said the traffic department needs an overhaul as there are no coordinated road accidents prevention measures.
She further claimed that country’s traffic cops hardly produce police reports regarding reported road accidents, a development, she said, put most insurance companies and their clients in bad terms..
“I was involved in an accident sometime back, the police came to their job, but it took them several months just to prepare a police report for me as if I did not pay for it,” said Chilobwe based motorist.
There was no immediate response from the traffic department as Nyasa Times failed to get hold of ‘relevant authorities’ as advised by the traffic cops this reporter bumped into Thursday morning near Universal Trading Limited.
