World Vision donates reflector jackets

World Vision Malawi has donated 200 reflector jackets worth K2 million to community policing members in Senior Chief Chimombo in Nsanje District.

Speaking yesterday during the handover at Matundu in the area, World Vision Malawi Nyachipere Area Programme team leader Peter Saidi said they wanted to empower community policing structures to effectively do their job.

“We want to enhance protection of children in the area as we will be implementing our projects for the next 12 years,” he said.

In his remarks, Nsanje Police Station officer-in-charge Joseph Mutupha asked the community policing members to stick to their job description.

He said it was sad to hear that some community policing members were shielding suspects from prosecution or handling criminal cases.

“Do not handle criminal cases such as defilements, rape, incest because only trained magistrates are responsible for prosecuting suspects. I also hear that some community policing members receive bribes to prevent taking suspects to court,” said Mutupha.

Senior Chief Chimombo agreed with Mutupha that only courts can settle criminal matters.

“I thank World Vision Malawi for the donation but I ask other well-wishers to support community policing forums with safety boots, whistles and bicycles,” he said.

But Traditional Authority Chimombo Community Policing chairperson Fatima Poteya dismissed the allegations that they settle criminal cases.

“We know our boundaries when exercising our duties. We refer all criminal matters to police where prosecutors take the suspects to court,” she said.