Eastern Region Police Commissioner Chikondi Chingadza has urged traditional leaders and communities in Machinga District to embrace dialogue when misunderstandings arise between them and police officers.
The sentiments followed an incident in January this year when angry community members set ablaze Nayuchi Police Unit after a misunderstanding with law enforcers.
The action resulted in the transfer of police officers from the formation and temporary closure of the Immigration Office in the area which borders Mozambique.
Speaking in Nayuchi on Wednesday during an awareness on the dangers of mob justice and vandalising police units, Chingadza described the practices as an obstacle to security and safety.
She said: “This area borders Mozambique. Criminals have taken advantage of the situation, organising themselves and disrupting peace in the area.
“We want to re-strategise on how the new police structure will be reconstructed because we cannot leave this place as it is.”
On his part, the region’s community policing executive chairperson Dan Phiri said vandalism targeting police units was hampering efforts to upgrade the facilities to police stations.
“Nayuchi Police Unit was under consideration for promotion to a police station because it serves a large population and plays a vital role in trade and revenue collection for the country,” he said.
However, Traditional Authority Mchinguza said for the past three months, they suffered due to increased cases of theft and vandalism.
“We had to travel over 50 kilometres to access justice at the nearest police station at Ntaja,” he said.
Iman Yusuf, a business operator at Nayuchi Market, said the absence of police put businesses at risk.
During her tour, Chingadza also met her Mozambican counterparts at the border to foster cooperation and ensure cordial relations between both countries.
