Businesses and a human rights activist have asked government to step up security in the country to ensure peace of mind for both businesses and citizens.
In an interview last week in response to The Nation questionnaire on how rising cases of insecurity are affecting businesses, Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) chief executive officer Chancellor Kaferapanjira said the insecurity is scaring away investors.
Said Kaferapanjira: “The insecurity situation is creating uncertainty among the investors. People are afraid to invest because they are afraid of losing either their lives or property. Instead, they opt to invest somewhere.”
He said even those that have already invested in the country feel insecure and are always hesitant, not knowing what would happen to them next. He asked government to take urgent action.
Said the MCCCI boss: “Security is in the hands of government. We call upon government to invest in security because by doing that, Malawi will attract investment which is good for the economy.”
Institute of Policy Interaction (IPI) executive director Rafiq Hajat also mentioned poverty and corruption as some factors that are contributing to insecurity.
He said a good percentage of people live below the poverty line and they are left with only one option; that is to reap where they did not sow.
Said Hajat: “Then there is weakness within the security system itself where the police are inadequate for the country. There are too many officers but few field staff in the police service.”
While admitting that police are underfunded, Hajat blamed them for misuse of meagre resources they are allocated.
“There is no proper balance between resources and usage. You find police vehicles carrying firewood or goods for the police officers. That’s abuse,” he claimed.
In recent months, the country has recorded rising cases of armed robbery and robbery with violence.
For example, on September 10 2013, armed robbers attacked Namiwawa Private School in Blantyre where they killed the school’s head teacher, George Maluwa, after demanding cash which was not available at the institution.
The assailants forced the school’s security guard, at gun-point, to knock at the head-teacher’s house before stealing computers and other accessories, leaving an apparently suffocated Maluwa helpless. He was reported dead on arrival at the hospital.
On July 13 2013, armed robbers also shot dead a Chinese national, Zhou Feng, at his Mapanga residence along the Limbe-Zomba Road. Zhou, 48, owned Hongfeng Cooking Oil Limited.
There have also been several cases of armed robberies in the country, including vehicle thefts and house breaking.
Police say they are trying their best to contain the security situation in the country.
National Police spokesperson Rhoda Manjolo said among activities the police are carrying out are sweeping exercise operations. She said other strategies include arresting of suspected crime perpetrators, patrols, liaisons and working with communities of interest and collection of crime intelligence.
“We would, therefore, want to assure the public that every effort is being done to ascertain the safety and security of the public,” said Manjolo.
Responding to the question of resources, she said police have on several occasions complained about low funding.
While admitting the financial problems the police are facing, Manjolo could not disclose how much was allocated in the budget and how much police demanded.
Recently, Blantyre Police Station management, in the country’s commercial hub, told a stakeholders meeting that the station’s monthly allocation of K2 million for operations and running of four other sub-stations and seven police units is inadequate.
In the 2012/13 National Budget, the station proposed a budget of K10 million per month but only got K2 million. n
