The Malawi Police Service has underscored the need to advance the skills of women police officers to enable them do what their male counterparts are capable of doing locally and internationally.
Commissioner Rex Kachama made the remarks on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of a two-week driving induction and English language training course for police women at Kanjedza Police Training School in Blantyre.
The course will involve 220 police women drawn from all the districts in Malawi. Forty-two of them have been funded by the Norwegian Government.
“Since the Malawi Government wants to improve capacity for police women going for peace keeping mission, it was noted that officers face problems in driving and English speaking. It does not mean that they do not know English, but there is a need for them to attain the requirements of the United Nations peace keeping efforts to enhance communication.
“On the driving induction training, most female officers know how to drive automatic small vehicles, but the UN peace keeping standards require officers to drive 4 by 4 manual transmission vehicle, hence the training,” said Kachama.
Chief Superintendent for the Norwegian Police Force, Tor Damkas, said the areas where the officers are being trained on are important in as far as peacekeeping mission in the Sadc and UN are concerned.
“It is very important that peacekeeping officers drive safely and professionally meeting the UN standards, the more reason we have decided to enhance the skills in the female officers,” said Damkas.
One of the female officers, Mercy Madhlopa thanked the Malawi and Norwegian governments for introducing the training as it will enhance their skills and make them
ready for peacekeeping missions.
