Malawi's new police chief declares clear-out on corruption
The newly appointed Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service (MPS) Loti Dzonzi has said one of his major tasks as top cop will be to root out corruption which has terribly dented the image of the security agency.
Dzonzi, a long time commissioner of police, was appointed Sunday evening as police chief by President Joyce Banda replacing the detested Peter Mukhito who headed the service since 2010.
The new police chief said it was his wish that under his reign the police should be disciplined and its image should change for the better by serving the public in a professional manner.
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Dzonzi also pledged he would strive to bridge the gap that exists between the police and the public.
“I would want to lead a police service that is professional, that is characterized by integrity and that works towards an ultimate goal of making Malawi a secure and safe place for everybody to live in,” said the 53-year-old holder of Masters Degree in Business Administration and Bachelors Degree in Arts.
He observed that Malawians have over the years been regarded as peaceful people and as chief of police in the country he would not want to destabilize their harmony but instead promote working partnership.
“I, together with my friends, would want to stretch our arms so that we work together with the community as partners,” said Dzonzi, who will head a service that has over 8,000 serving officers.
Merit
Meanwhile, most Malawians have warmly welcomed the appointment of Dzonzi describing him as a competent and God fearing leader.
“Congratulations to President Joyce Banda for having an eagle’s eye. Dzonzi is a learned cop, very competent and a disciplined person, I am sure his qualifications and ability will take the police service to a greater height,” said Isaac Masamba, a Blantyre based businessman but retired police officer.
An inspector of police serving at Soche Police Station, who did not want to be named, described the new police boss as “one of the finest and morally grounded police officers to appointed as Inspector General.”
His predecessor, Mukhito has since wished Dzonzi well and appealed to all police officers in the country to fully support the new police boss during his leadership.
Mukhito has been fired barely 24 hours after President Banda assumed office as Malawi’s Head of State following the untimely death of President Bingu wa Mutharika on April 5 due to a cardiac arrest.
Fact file
Before his appointment, Dzonzi who comes from TA Malenga in Ntchisi District, was Commissioner of Police responsible for Administration based at National Police Headquarters, Area 30 in Lilongwe.
Before that he served the service in various capacities as commissioner for central region, commissioner for eastern region, commissioner responsible for research and training, commandant for Police College in Zomba, station officer for Ndirande Police Station, among others.
He joined the Malawi Police Service on 1st July 1987 as an English teacher at Police Secondary School in Zomba where he rose to become the headmaster before being reassigned to other duties.
The Public Appointments Committee of Parliament will have to confirm Dzonzi as the IG.
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