Transfers not enough! Chimwendo must do better on corrupt police officers
A decision by the Malawi Police Service (MPS) to transfer eight police officers from Zomba and Mangochi districts to general duties for soliciting bribes whilst they worked in the criminal investigation and road traffic departments has not amused some citizens.
According to a communique signed by MPS service administration officer, KD Mulezo, seen by Nyasa Times, Patrick Pakundikana, Evelesi Chikanga, Shakira Chifisi and Nangwale based in Zomba as well as Kamfoloma and Chrissy Tengema based in Mangochi have been moved from the department of Road Traffic Directorate and Safety Services (RTDSS) to general duties.
Further, the communique adds, Billy Chibwe, and Officer Njolomole both based in Mangochi have also been moved from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to general duties—also for taking bribes from clients.
For those that served at the RTDSS department an order has been issued that they surrender their uniforms.
Officers booted out of the traffic department have been advised to surrender their uniforms.
Nyasa Times has learnt that the development comes following an outcry from the general public that some police officers were demanding money from clients, especially taxi drivers, for “route buying” within the concerned districts.
MPS spokesman, James Kadadzera, has since reprimanded the moved officers saying the mandate of the service was to serve.
But distinguished law professor at the University of Malawi, Chancellor College, Edge Kanyongolo, on reacting to the news simply wondered: “Transfer as punishment for crime?”
And, James Chavula, one of the senior editors at Nation Publications Limited (NPL), took to his Facebook page and lamented at how the law enforcement agency smiled at its corrupt workers.
“Transferring the problem from one department to another is just what it is—appeasement, not a deterrent punishment for the bribery that the security agency seems to tolerate guns down,” wrote Chavula.
He added: “The fact that transfers from the C.I.D and traffic departments are seen as a punishment in itself amplifies the fear that bribery, also sanitized as kickbacks, have made these vital departments so lucrative that those kicked out have to wear sackcloth and roll in hot ash in atonement.”
The multi award-winning journalist wished Minister of Homeland Security, Richard Chimwendo Banda, did better on getting rid of the rot in his camp.
“This is a good example of how not to fight a culture of kickbacks in a police service widely perceived as the most corrupt State agency by the people it is supposed to serve,” wrote Chavula.
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Me i want to be poliice officer too
I like the job ..
But all law enforcers must follow rules to transfer them before they make mistake
Because they have experience already for WHAT they are doing ..to their position..
Ndine mmalawi ..nzika ndithu 002782037569
We call for our beloved Martha Chizuma to move in quickly, we can’t have corrupt officers transferred instead of being fired, investigated and prosecuted.
Ministry of security Mr Banda must do something on this, we are not happy with this 😡😡😡😡
So strange, being moved from Traffic to General Duties is not demotion, is just reverting. We can end corruption in this way, why not arresting them?
Is there anybody with the evidence that they received kickbacks, Otherwise doing more depends on that not on heresy. This is where corruption fight becomes a problem. There must be documentary evidence to prosecute them or to fire them from work not mere social media revelation. If its fraud its easy to fight e.g. if someone has receipts of MK2m and he banks MK1m. It is easy to follow that MK1m has been misappropriated. Nut if one receives bribes. What is the document? obviuosly none. But with fraud you can check recepts and bank statements and deposit slips to reconcile them and find the deficit. So from the point above it is difficult to prosecute these guys and ladies.
Transferring corrupt police officers to other departments is wrong! We are not going to clean up the rabble that way.
The many police that stand around road blocks are not necessary or needed.
What kind of security do we get from so many road checks?
Corrupt officials should not be transferred but be fired. Fired regardless of rank,tribe or creed. That way sanity will come back to work places and society.
This article demonstrates that Malawi civil service is corrupt in most of its levels . Just imagine that the law enforce arm of government is labelled as one of the most corrupt institutions. The practice of state resources abuse via corrupt activities , theft etc shall be history as this battle is handed to the Lord, our God for divine solutions. Praying that Malawi as a nation move towards God who has answers for any situation. Amen.
O Chimwendo nverani izo anthu akunena njoka soweta. Fisi ndi fisi mngakhale atachoka theno ku thengo lina kupita lina amakhalabe fisi. Nkhani yayikulu ndikuti a bwana Chakwera ndi a Chilima achiwiri awo akufuna kuthetsa katangale. Anthu mwapanga transferwa anachita zimene boma silikufuna. Chonde atsegulireni milandu ngati umboni ulipo osati kuwasintha. Vuto lilipo ndilolembana pa chibale mchifukwa zikuvutani kuthetsa katangale ku police.
the whole police service needs an overhaul because promotions now with Kainja are based on nepositism. Kainja is only promoting those from central region and girlfriends. search me.
And for one to go for peace keeping you have to give bribes or ladies have to open their legs to bosses. You will notice that those going for peace keeping are pretty girls and if you find somebody ugly its either she is a relation to the boss or paid a hefty bribe.
The way people are promoted in the Malawi police service is very irregular and if you dont have any connection at area 30 you will retire at the same rank. I know some guys who have worked for many years yet they are stuck at the same rank because they dont have realtives at area 30 yet some new recruits will rise through the ranks every year and be boss to those who have served for many years. KAINJA is very nepotistic and he is only promoting girlfriends and tribesmen.
Can the Minister also act on CID officers at Uliwa in Karonga? Hiw can they keep somebody for a month without charge
The trend and incidences of reported and observed corrupt acts by some police officers is extremely alarming. This has sky rocketed in the past fifteen years. Corrupt police officers who in their dealings have flourished as manifested by the accumulation of properties by most junior officers unlike their seniors who spend most of their time in offices. Assignment to CID and Road Traffic Services has become a gold mining opportunity by most of these officers. Typical day robbery in its true sense!!!!! Sizinasiye malo zimenezi!!! I stay here in Lilongwe. I have also done several spot check anonymous survey in most of our police manned roadblock……nyasi zokhazokha. Tangoyesani muyendere misewu yopita ku Mitundu from Lilongwe City muwone how serious the problem of police corruption has become!!!!
Mainja is also busy promoting gurkfri2nds and relative’s and tribesme Thise foing to foreign assignments are either girlfriends or relatives to bosses at area 30. Some of them will even go thrice either because they are connected to the bosses or pay bribes. The police is completely rotten and even worse until the tribalistic and womaniser Kainja
If the truth is to be told Chimwendo is one of the ministers who are doing more harm than good to Chakwera’s legacy. Despite the fact that it is well know that traffic police officers solicit bribes on daily basis and throughout the country, Chimwendo has done nothing to remove this cancer from our streets once and for all. These guys are stealing money on daily basis and just today, Saturday the 29th of May 2021, I saw traffic police officers getting bribes (3000 for each car) from driver’s operating between Matawale and Jali market. They do this all the time (Monday- Songani, Wednesday-Jali and Thondwe, Saturday-Jali and Thondwe). Chimwendo is looking the other side while Malawians are suffering from this heinous crime perpetuated by the men in traffic uniform. Malawi cannot afford to have people of Chimwendos caliber at the heart/helm of a very important ministry like Homeland and security. Chakwera should do the right thing and fire this misfit and pretentious minister.