JB orders review of conditions for police

Malawi President Joyce Banda has ordered the review of the conditions of service for police officers so that junior officers do not stay on one rank for many years despite their hard work.

Speaking when she launched the Malawi Police Women Network in Lilongwe on Wednesday, Banda said the directive underlines the discussions she has had, recently, with Police Inspector General Lot Dzonzi and Minister of Home Affairs Uladi Mussa, on her keenness to make sure that conditions in the police service are improved.

The President said it is disheartening, particularly for junior officers, not to be promoted for many years.

“There are some sections in the Police Service where officers and men seem stuck to the same rank for many years before being promoted. If you are in the signals, Police Band or even in the Police Mobile Service (PMS), it takes ages before any promotion. We have been discussing on how we can improve the conditions and we are even looking at how we can improve accommodation for the officers,” she said.

Banda stated that she will ensure the new model houses whose roofs were blown off at Ntandire, in Lilongwe, are rehabilitated and that the police building department has adequate brick-moulding machines for constructing more model houses.

“I grew up in the police lines, where my father was OC (officer in charge) for Chiradzulu and Chileka and we used to sleep in crammed houses… We want that scenario to change. We will lobby support to make sure that we solve the problem of houses,” said Banda.

Earlier, Mussa said the formation of the network has come at the right time when women are making great strides in society.

“Women are no longer lagging behind these days and the formation of this network will help many female officers to realise their higher goals,” said Mussa.