President Banda calls for tight security to residents
President Mrs. Joyce Banda has called on all security agencies in the country, including the Malawi Police Service to ensure maximum and robust security to citizens and the business community at all times.
The President’s comments follow media reports of laxity in the country’s security resulting from a spate of reported criminal cases in people’s homes and business premises which the Malawi Police Service has attributed to some officers resisting the change in the service leadership.
Banda made the call at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre where the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) donated 222 pieces of musical instruments to the Malawi Police Service worthy K118 million.
“I have been reading disturbing reports of increasing crime in some parts of the country. This is not acceptable to the Malawi Police,” said President Banda.
“The Malawi Police Service and all other security agencies need to ensure that all forms of crime in this country must be crushed as it is an enemy of our agenda development,” said President Banda who is also Commander in Chief of the Police Service.
President Banda assured the business community of a peaceful and secure business environment saying it is the duty of government to ensure law and order.
Donation
On the donation, President Banda said the newly acquired musical equipment would foster improved musical standards in the Police Service as it would ease frustrations band members were enduring due to the old equipment they already acquire.
“This (donation) will undoubtedly go a long way towards improving the activities of the Malawi Police Band,” said Banda, who also called upon band members to make full use of the equipment through new musical composition.
Piracy
She was also concerned with piracy saying that it remains a major challenge facing the musical and the entertainment industry in the country.
President Banda piracy was being advanced by unscrupulous people who she added they reap off benefits of artists.
Banda pledged government’s commitment in enforcing the law to ensure artists realize benefits of their sweat.
“Government will work to review laws, procedures and enforce mechanisms to fight piracy so that entrepreneurs in the industry can benefit,” explained President Banda whose late father was also part of the Malawi Police Service and played a significant role in the Police Band department.
Japan friend indeed
Receiving the donation, Minister of Home Affairs, Uladi Mussa hailed JICA for the donation saying the musical equipment would strengthen and enhance the capacity of the Police Band.
He said music is an integral tool of communication that unites people noting that the new equipment would cement the relationship between the police and the people they serve.
“Through music as a medium of communication, the band remains a powerful tool for engaging the community and increasing positive contact between the police and the public,” said Mussa.
On is Part Japanese ambassador to Malawi, Fujio Samukawa said the importance of law and order could not be over emphasized in Malawi.
He said apart from their core role of ensuring maximum security to the country’s residents the Malawi Police Band has a role to instill discipline and unity through music.
“The Police Band has also been vital in spicing up state events such as national celebrations and other commemorations thereby contributing to the preservation of culture and national building through its outstanding and remarkable performances,” said Samukawa.
The Inspector General of police, Loti Dzonzi commended JICA for the donation saying it would go a long way in improving the diminishing standards of music in the Malawi Police Band.
“In recent years, we have seen lowering standards of music in the Band but this was due to the use of outdated equipment.
“This donation will complement efforts that are being made to restore the band to its old day’s standards,” said Dzonzi who also echoed the president’s maximum utilization of the equipment through new compositions.
The donation which comprises 20 types of instruments consisting of would wind, brass, percussion and dance band equipment was made through the Japanese Cultural Grant Aid which dates back to 2010 when Japan and Malawi exchanged notes.
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