Police not under cashgate pressure—IG
Inspector General of Malawi Police Service (MPS) Lot Dzonzi says the police are not under pressure from anybody to spare the big fish in the ongoing investigations into the mass looting of funds at Capital Hill dubbed cashgate.
But the Civil Society Grand Coalition has dismissed Dzonzi’s claims that the police are not working under any political influence.
Speaking on the sidelines of a party organised for senior police officers at the Officers Mess at Police Headquarters in Lilongwe, Dzonzi said since he assumed office he has never been pressured by anyone.
Said Dzonzi: “As Inspector General since I assumed office, I have never been under pressure from anybody. As an institution investigating the cashgate, we will make sure that we are thorough with our investigations and make sure that anyone involved faces the law. We will not spare any big fish but the public must understand that investigating cases like cashgate takes time and one has to be thorough to avoid making mistakes.”
Dzonzi’s remarks come at a time when most people involved in the looting of public funds have been arrested and granted bail pending the resumption of cases between January and April.
According to available information, 100 cases will go to court on cashgate scandal alone, 81 of which will be handled by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
But the coalition’s spokesperson Chris Chisoni said the situation on the ground is creating suspicions on the independence of the police. He cited the handling of the former budget director Paul Mphwiyo case as an example.
“A few days after Mphwiyo was shot, there was reshuffle in the police service where a new Deputy Inspector General was appointed. Was that necessary? Did the investigations into Mphwiyo’s shooting require a police reshuffle? Was there connection between investigations and reshuffle?” asked Chisoni.
He also said there are media reports which claim that some officers are being threatened to carry out their investigations properly.
Speaking at the party, Dzonzi admitted that the police faced major challenges in the fight against organised crime in the just ended year.
Said Dzonzi: “Recorded crime in 2013 was 56 992 against recorded crime of 59 021 in 2012. This means that we registered a difference of 2 029 cases, representing a 3.4 percent decrease. However, we need to double our efforts in the collection of crime intelligence because organised crime has been a bother to the nation especially in the urban areas.”
Who can take serious someone who is speaking from inside the dust bin? He shld first show us that he is the one in control and not Bophani.
Gumbigumbi you are right 101%. Why should JB task Bophani her relation to this high profile case instead of the IG? It shows that the IG is not in this case and can not competently tell us anything concrete on this matter. Bophani reports direct to JB sidelining this IG and how can that be callwd being in control?
The “IG” has finally managed to disentangle himself from the shackles/cocoon Joyce Banda has put him into and has no regrets defending the indefensible. It is not surprising after getting first-hand information that Jezebel intends to cause a calamitous pain on this Dzonzi by offering him a diplomatic post to finally get rid of him. Now because the dude is not professionally qualified (mere teacher) he has swallowed the bait both hook and sink wholly because he feels that is an achievement based on his standards. These political appointments are further taking the country backwards big time. The blame goes to the Parliament Appointments Committee who seem not to comprehend their humble duties and as a result Joyce has chosen to run the country on personal terms as if it is a family business. It is a very unfortunate thing when the country belongs to all Malawians and not for PP.
A Dzonzi, bodzatu ili. Kodi inuyo mukugwira ntchito yanji ku Policiko. Have you not heard that people are living in perpetual fear with serial murders somewhere called Gomoti or Golomonti in Ncheu or Dedza. Several people have been killed, private parts cut. People are failing to go to their gardens and you say you are the chief life and property protector worthy the salt. Mchere wake wa nkodzotu