Chipoka Police to get new vehicle
Barely a day after The Nation reported on lack of transport hampering efforts to curb crime in Chipoka, Salima, Malawi Police Service (MPS) says it will deploy a new motor vehicle to Chipoka Police Unit.
The assurance yesterday came after The Nation reported on an upsurge in criminal activities, including gruesome murders, which have created fear and anxiety among locals around Chipoka Trading Centre.
At least four people, including an MPS Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officer Rhoda Ng’oma have been murdered this year, according to Village Head Saidi.
Briefing journalists in Lilongwe yesterday, MPS Commissioner for Central Region Clifford Devson Bandawe said the service intends to buy new motor vehicles to address mobility challenges; and that, Chipoka Police Unit will be one of the beneficiaries units and stations.
He said: “We have that window [procurement of new motor vehicles] which is there. Government has promised to give us some vehicles. We were assured that shortly the vehicles will be available and we will provide them.”
Bandawe also disclosed that the police service is facing “very big pressure” on transport issues, especially in police units located in remote areas.
Regional executive committee (REC) chairperson Pastor Edson Jere, whose grouping works with the police on security issues, appealed to the corporate world to contribute towards procurement of vehicles for the police.
He said government alone cannot manage because there are a lot of areas where it needs to service using the very thin purse. n
