Crime, road accidents drop
Malawi Police Service (MPS), which has described 2014 as a challenging year, has reported a 13 percent and nine percent reduction in road accidents and crime respectively in the past year.
The year 2014 was characterised by security lapses. Armed robberies and other violent crimes were rampant and a number of people lost their lives and property in a year that saw then inspector general of police Lot Dzonzi seeking God’s intervention, fasting and conducting a joint sweeping exercise with other security agents.
However, MPS deputy national spokesperson Mable Msefula said in an interview on Monday police managed to reduce crime from 65 857 in 2013 to 59 940 in 2014.
She added that the road traffic section of MPS also reported a reduction in road accidents from 9 031 in 2013 to 7 822 in 2014.
Of the accidents recorded in the just ended year, 850 were fatal compared to 861 in 2013.
Despite reducing crime, Msefula lamented violent crimes such as armed robberies in the year 2014 which, she said, risked many lives and property.
She attributed the reduction in road accidents to road safety campaigns and increased presence of traffic officers on the roads while crime was due to good relationship between community and police and professionalism on the part of officers.
In a related development, 12 people died in eight road accidents that occurred in the Northern Region during the festive season while six people were murdered.
Northern Region Police spokesperson Maurice Chapola said most of the accidents were due to over-speeding by motorists and two involved bicycle operators.
