Editors PickNational News

Minister for enhanced security

Minister of Homeland Security Nicholas Dausi has asked all departments under his ministry to be diligent in enhancing security as the country approaches the May 21 Tripartite Elections.

He made the call yesterday during the official opening of the ministry’s senior management meeting at Victoria Hotel in Blantyre attended by department heads.

Dausi (L) confers with Madula during the meeting

The minister observed that lack of resources in the ministry’s departments is a stumbling block in efforts to enhance the country’s security.

He said: “We still have a long way towards establishing a secure and efficient Homeland Security that is responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people. I acknowledge that during the course of exercising your duties, there are a number of challenges that impede your progress. These include: old and dilapidated offices, lack of office furniture and inadequate funding for operations, among others.”

Dausi also expressed shock over the continued abduction and killing of people with albinism, saying the act is inhuman.

He observed that there is need for collective effort from communities and police to enhance security to protect people with albinism.

“We need to decisively deal with the killing of people with albinism, illegal and irregular migration, management of refugees and corruption. Of late, the media has been awash with stories of alleged corrupt practices in our departments by some officers.  Given the nature of our work, most officers are prone to corrupt practices,” said the minister.

He expressed worry over reports that people with albinism are sometimes betrayed by their own relations, saying his ministry will coordinate with the Judiciary to ensure perpetrators get stiffer penalties.

Some senior government officials who attended the meeting included deputy minister Charles Mchacha,  secretary for Homeland Security Samuel Madula, secretary and commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs Ernest Kantchentche, deputy Inspector General of Police Duncan Mwapasa, director general of Immigration and Citizenship Services Department Masauko Medi, chief commissioner of Prisons Wandika Phiri and deputy commissioner for Refugees Hudson Mankhwala.

For the past few weeks, cases of killing people with albinism have risen with recent missing of an 18-month-old child in Karonga on Tuesday. n

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