Malawi Police officers working in fear

Shocking revelations indicate that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government has instilled fear in the Malawi police service such that officers are working under heavy political pressure from top party officials.

Some police officers who revealed this to Malawi24 on Wednesday claimed that they have been advised to be taking orders from top officials in a bid to cover up errors committed by the ruling party.

They added that the instructions have not spared all public relations officers in the service who have been strictly told not to publicize everything which may in any case expose the flaws of the current government.

“We are working under their political influence and not serving Malawians as assigned. They told us to be following orders from the ruling party top officials and not any other person,” said the source pleading for anonymity.

He recalled what has presently happened to Mzimba police publicist constable Lingstone Kanjautso who has been stripped of his spokesperson duties by authorities for confirming the death of a man who died due to hunger in the district.

“Kanjautso has been demoted for the same reason that he confirmed to the media about a man who died of hunger in Mzimba. Our job safety is under great intimidation with this government,” he added.

As if this were not enough, he went on to reveal that many officers who tried to exposed weaknesses of the current government are tensed up because they have as well been tipped of possible demotions and unlawful transfers.

Recently, officers at Mzimba police were shocked upon learning that the Inspector General of police ordered the demotion of Kanjautso on the basis that he was not appointed on the position by relevant authorities.

“When have they known that he wasn’t appointed by the Inspector General to be the publicist? We still believe that some politics have influenced the decision and we are not happy for their decision,” said one cop.

He added by trashing the current system whereby some politicians can still be influencing the Malawi police service saying the tendency makes them to perform ineffectively.

“This is the very same reason you find us police officers denying some opposition politicians to hold political rallies because they influence us. We would love if they would let us perform our duties independently,” he said.

However, national police spokesperson Nicholas Gondwa insisted that there are no such fears among police officers as nobody from the ruling party is influencing their services with political authority.

He clarified the demotion of Kanjautso by claiming that the police officer was not trained to be a public relations officer for the police thus authorities have decided to replace him with someone who is well trained for the duty.

He said: “Most of the publicists who are just publicizing for the police without being appointed by relevant authorities will be demoted and be replaced by some new ones.”