Police ready for festive season

Malawi Police Service says it has put in place strategies to help contain crimes and road traffic accidents during the 2023/24 festive season.

The measures include intensifying snap roadblocks and police patrols nationwide and come amid the law enforcement agent’s observations that crime and road accidents rates tend to increase during festive seasons.

National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya in an interview yesterday said they will also intensify deployment of police officers in crime prone areas in all cities, towns as well as rural areas.

He said police will increase awareness campaigns through public relations activities and community engagements on the importance of police-community relationship in the fight against crimes.

Said Kalaya: “Snap roadblocks are one of the strategies that we are using to intensify security during this period because these roadblocks help check criminals’ movements.

“We will also increase deployment of traffic police officers to conduct traffic checks and enforce the Road Traffic Act in all the major roads across the country during both days and nights.”

Commenting on the matter, Mzuzu University governance, peace and security studies lecturer Aubrey Kabisala said besides increasing visibility in some parts of the country, police should ensure that they have resources such as personnel, fuel and functioning vehicles.

He said: “For instance, police can get some officers, let’s say from Chiradzulu and Chikwawa and enhance the workforce in Blantyre.

“The IG [Inspector General of Police] also needs to engage the Treasury on fuel allocation because sometimes you find that there is a reported crime somewhere, but police fail to rush to the scene because police vehicles have no fuel.”

A quick analysis of police data in the previous festive season between December 24 2022 and January 2 2023 shows that about 20 people died and 70 others sustained various injuries in 56 road accidents.

Road safety expert Steve Mwandama observed that if the country is to win the road accidents fight, government should consider making defensive driving course mandatory to all drivers.

He noted that most road accidents happen due to reckless driving and lack of defensive driving knowledge.

Said Mwandama: “Aside the measures put in place to contain road accidents, defensive driver courses are very critical because drivers are taught intensive skills to avoid road accidents. Government should consider making this course mandatory to  all drivers.

“This should also apply to kabaza [motorcycle taxi] operators because most of them don’t know the road traffic rules and regulation as well as the code of dressing on motorcycles.”

Mwandama said some of the tips motorists must follow include:

• Follow all traffic rules and regulations

•Ensure vehicle is roadworthy before departure

•Check if lights and wipers are functional

• Don’t drink and drive

• Don’t drive when you are tired or dozing.