Minister says security under control

Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Paul Chibingu says the country is winning the battle against crime contrary to suggestions that there is a security lapse.

Chibingu said this in an interview on Monday in reaction to concerns about security following attacks on high-profile individuals, including the official residence of Vice-President SaulosChilima in Blantyre, the residence of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Minister AtupeleMuluzi and the theft of the official vehicle of Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture KondwaniNankhumwa.

Said Chibingu: “No, we are winning, especially if you compare with the same time last year. And even with good security, there can still be these incidences because these are organised crimes which require a lot of homework.”

The minister said the police are tirelessly working with the community, through community policing, to curb crime in the country.

Reacting to last week’s theft of Nankhumwa’s vehicle in Lunzu, Blantyre, Joseph Chunga, an analyst based at the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College in Zomba, described the situation as the worst and said it was an indication Malawi’s security is at the lowest.

“When robbers challenge the State machinery at will, that they can go anywhere and strike, just know that the security status is getting worse. Then we wonder if we can be talking about business with this kind of security because you do not know where they will strike next,” he noted.

Chunga said if the relationship between police and communities was practical, the police could have been informed about such operations in advance to stay alert.

Police have since arrested Nankhumwa’s driver and one for the ministry’s principal secretary on suspicion that they connived with the carjackers.