As the September 16 General Election draws near, the Malawi Police Service has embarked on a series of public order management trainings to equip its officers with skills in managing violence.
Opening the training at Mlangeni Police Training College in Ntcheu on Monday, Police Inspector General (IG) Merlyne Yolamu advised officers to take the training seriously and master tactics of managing gatherings, especially during the campaign period when peaceful gatherings can easily escalate into violence.
“We consider this a critical moment because tempers can easily rise leading to violence. Always make prudent decisions and take the right action which can calm the situation without aggravating the situation,” she said.
The Police IG discouraged the officers from firing teargas or opening fire unless the situation got out of control.
“After this training, we expect that you all will be able to make meaningful decisions right at the scene. You don’t always have to refer issues to seniors when you are on the ground. You should know better how to resolve a situation,” said Yolamu.
The training is sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP), a major stakeholder in the electoral process which offers support in civic education, among others.
In her remarks, UNDP Resident Representative Fenella Frost said the training is critical for the police who are expected to ensure peace and order before, during and after the elections.
“We have hope in the police and this training adds on the skills and knowledge on how this task can be performed so that the elections go on smoothly and people’s rights are respected,” she said.
On her part, Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja said so far, there has been good coordination between the commission and the police which she said is a step towards peaceful elections.
