Police chief stops ‘operations’, Malawi cops off to Darfur
Malawi’s top Cop Peter Mukhito has ordered all Police Officers in the not to conduct any operations without his nod. Meanwhile the country has since deployed 60 officier on a one-year peacekeeping mission in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region.
According to a message transmitted to all Police establishments in the country including Police Units, Cops are prohibited from doing things like sweeping exercises, unscheduled patrols and other security operations, a source said.
“This is a dangerous move because Mukhito will have to work 24 hours so as to respond to requests from various establishments throughout the country. And without a deputy this is impossible,” the source told Nyasa Times.
The source said this turn of events has rendered effectively incapacitated Police bosses as they cannot make decisions within their jurisdiction.
The development comes following a fracas Police had with street sellers in Lilongwe which lead to some shops being looted and destroyed.
Goverment irked
It has emerged hat the governning DPP is angry with Lilongwe City Council Chief Executive Officer Kelvin Mmangisa because of his decision to remove vendors from the streets which sparked riots in the capital.
The Lilongwe City Council had solicited Police’s help to rid the streets of vendors to designated selling points. But the vendors resisted because President Bingu wa Mutharika last year okayed them to stay put in the streets.
The Malawi Defence Force had to be called in to stop the rioting after the Police failed.
Last week Mukhito also made stern measures by making transfers of Police top brass. Sources said the transfers have been effected following the poor performance of the regional bosses.
Central Region Boss Doreen Kapanga was pushed to Police Headquarters and will be in charge of Research and Planning and was replaced by Northern region Boss Nelson Bophani.
Kamanga was immediately transferred for seeking the help of the Army in the vendors fracas without telling the
Police Inspector General. Mukhito is embarrased that the army was involved without his consent hence these other developments.
Wilson Matanga from Eastern region has been sent to the north while Finely Bwanali who headed the Research and Planning department at Area 30 replaced Matanga at the Eastern region.
Darfur mission
Meanwhile, police commissioner Lot Dzonzi said in a statement that 60 police officiers have been deployed to Darfur,the biggest contigent so far from Malawi Police.
The contingent incude 19 females repalcig 30 officers who returned home last month.
“Peacekeeping is a very tough job. People of Darfur and other police officers from other countries should realy see that we have very good officers from Malawi,” Dzonzi said in a statement.
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