Govt dumps police on I Green Belt project

Government, through the Green Belt Initiative (GBI), has hired a private security firm, G4S, to guard the Chikwawa Sugar Factory currently under construction in Salima.

The facility was previously guarded by police officers but only four of them are still performing their duties at the project.

The development follows the arrest, in March, of 10 police officers who used to guard the premises, after KKC Nirman Indian Limited, a civil engineering firm that is constructing the sugar mill, lodged a complaint about the missing of 57 IBR corrugated iron sheets and a heavy duty welding machine.

The suspects are now in custody after taking a plea on charges of theft by a public servant on July 13 at the Salima Magistrates ‘Court.

In an interview last week, national coordinator for GBI, Reynold Njoloma, confirmed the development, saying security is paramount at the site where construction is currently at 80 percent completion rate.

“Yes, it’s true and it’s a pity it reached this level. But issues of security can’t be compromised. In consultation with us, the contractor engaged the private firm to help secure the premises following the police saga, and that’s well within their contractual prerogative. There are now 48 guards securing the project,” said Njoloma.

According to Njoloma, G4S is responsible for safeguarding both the factory premises and other equipment like centre pivots (over-head irrigation equipment) now scattered around the sugar growing fields, apart from the pump house at the lake.

He added the police are still engaged but to a minimal level.

“They are still deployed to the area but only as a precaution in form of reinforcements. They are not allowed near the sugar mill premises. We are just taking precautions,” he said.

In a telephone interview on Tuesday, National Police spokesperson Rhoda Manjolo could neither deny nor confirm the development, asking for more time to establish the truth and reasons behind the matter.

“But whatever the case, the public should always be mindful that the police can only work effectively with the support of the communities,” she said.

Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) national secretary Chris Chisoni has described the withdrawal of the police from the project as a dent to the service’s dignity and public image.

Said Chisoni: “Obviously, this can’t augur well with the public in as far as their trust is in the [police] service. We are talking of a public project and the police, who are legally mandated to provide security to it are actually the ones busy plundering the resources. And it doesn’t help matters coming at a time when we need more police presence amid the heightened crime rates.”

The 10 theft suspects from the sugar factory saga brought the number of police officers to have been nabbed for various criminal activities to 16 for the months of February and March alone, after others were arrested in Mangochi and Karonga.