Crime escalates after police abandon unit
Crime rate in Mphepozinayi, Ntcheu, has risen after the Malawi Police Service (MPS) withdrew from the area following disagreements over a new structure that was supposed to house the unit.
Four police officers were withdrawn from Mphepozinayi Police Unit in July this year after MPS said the structure was not fit for a police unit.
Village Head Tsalawadya from Traditional Authority (T/A) Njolomole said police in the area had been operating in rented premises until the community built one.
He said people have resorted to mob justice after lawlessness and crime rates escalated.
Mphepozinayi Ward councillor Jacobs Sibanyoni said the premises were much better than others where police operate from.
“What happened was unfortunate because the plans were given by the police themselves and Ntcheu District Council approved it,” he said.
Ntcheu Police Station spokesperson Gift Matewere said the station, has no mandate to open or close down a police unit.
“As a mother station, we only look at the welfare of [police] officers and we only report to the regional office about their welfare,” he said.
