Police Service Commission has promoted 3 851 junior and senior police officers in an exercise that has raised eyebrows from some quarters.
But National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya justified the promotions arguing that the upgrades were inevitable considering that the service had several vacancies.
The mass promotions, coming four months before the September 16 General Election, come exactly a year after the commission also considered a cohort of 894 officers to their next ranks.
In March 2023, the police also promoted 763 officers to different ranks, the highest number at one go since the promotion of about 7 000 junior police officers ahead of the 2019 Tripartite Elections by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration.
Internal wireless messages issued by the office of the Inspector General of Police dated May 9 2025 show that South East Police Region Commissioner Noel Kayira is now Deputy Inspector General (DIG) responsible for administration.
Commissioner Angello Ackis Muwanga, who was director of operations at Police Headquarters in Area 30, Lilongwe, is now DIG responsible for operations.
Kayira has replaced Happy Mkandawire who has retired while Muwanga takes over from the late Casper Chalera who died last October.
Kayira, a lawyer who holds a doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree in public administration from the University of Malawi (Unima), is regarded as one of the most principled and professional senior law enforcement officers in the country.
The commission has also promoted nine senior assistant commissioners of police (SACP) and assistant commissioners of police (ACP) to positions of deputy commissioners while 10 senior superintendents, including Kalaya, are now ACPs.
Further, the commission has also promoted 11 superintendents and 31 assistant superintendents to the positions of senior superintendents and superintendents, respectively.
Others that have been promoted include 357 inspectors, 796 sub-inspectors, 421 sergeants and 2214 constables.
The appointments, according to messages signed by director of human resource management and development Violet Magwaya on behalf of the IG, are with effect from April 16 2025.
But reacting to the appointments in an interview, a security and management specialist Alex Chisiano, a former ACP, said the timing of the appointments coming a few months before elections “is bad and does not inspire confidence in the process”.
He said: “History is the best teacher in such matters. This move would have smelled good if it was done much earlier and not en masse. The promotions smack suspicion in that it’s like they are meant to induce those concerned to sympathise with the current government and assist it excel. They scratch my back so that I can scratch yours syndrome.”
On his part, DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, while congratulating those promoted, also expressed concerns about the timing of the promotions.
“We condemn any attempts to use promotions as a means of gaining political support and favours from police officers. The role of the police service should be independent and apolitical, and we expect our commissioners in the Police Service Commission to uphold these principles,” he said.
Kalaya declined to comment on Namalomba and Chisiano’s assertions, saying “that is their opinion and I don’t think we qualify to be commenting on opinions.”
Human rights and governance commentator Undule Mwakasungula said the mass promotions may be part of a routine restructuring process, succession planning or efforts to enhance operational efficiency.
However, he said it was important that government communicates the rationale behind such mass promotions clearly and transparently to avoid public concern and speculation.
