Govt moves to regulate private security firms

 Government has stressed the need to put in place a robust regulatory framework for registration and operations of private security companies in the country.

Ministry of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma said in an interview yesterday that the move seeks to deal with the ‘chaos’ in the sector.

He said the regulations to be put in place will prescribe minimum standards for operating and requirements for background checks, among others.

“Currently, anyone can simply wake up and start operating a security company. But time is so high that we need to look at the profiles of the people operating security firms,” Ng’oma said.

The minister expressed fear that during disputes such as elections, some overzealous individuals’ first point of call would be to mobilise such security groups.

“Another worry is that some private security companies have been lobbying to be armed with guns yet the law only allows Malawi Police Service [MPS] and Malawi Defence Force [MDF] to carry firearms. So we need clarity on that,” he said.

Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo yesterday also stressed the need to enforce the Police Act and Defence Force Act.

He said it is disappointing to see some private security companies illegally using military attire which resemble MDF and police uniforms.

“Even the act of having drills or exercises performed by military or police is an offence because that is reserved for police and MDF. This carries a penalty of seven years in jail. And some youths, posing as security agents illegally put on military fatigues during political rallies. The law is clear, that this is illegal,” Mvalo said.

A peace and security expert Master Dicks Mfune said he supported the idea of putting in place a legal framework owing to growing security concerns in many countries.

“The law should clearly spell out the dos and don’ts. It should tell us what happens when someone breaks the law, issues of vetting, background check to individuals, company shareholders and all those things.”

Under Section 104 (9) of the Police Act, (9) no person “shall at any assembly or demonstration wear any form of apparel that resembles any uniforms worn by members of the Police Service or members of the Defence Force of Malawi”.

While the Defence Force Act, under Section 212 also places an offence against anyone who without authority uses or wears any naval, military or air force decoration, or any badge, wound stripe or any emblem supplied or authorised by the Defence Council or by the government of the country of any cooperating forces.