Malawi more secure under Dr Mutharika

NEW BROOM: Newly appointed Inspector General of the Malawi Police Peter Mukhitho. He is reported to be doing very well is his job according to a Malawi Digest public survey. Pic exclusively by Malawi Digest.

By Chifundo Gama

Following Malawi President Ngwazi Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika ascended to the reigns of power in 2004, the nation has experienced a tremendous improvement in the operations of the Malawi Police Service (MPS).

During the former president Bakili Muluzi’s 10 year tenure of office, the Malawi Police Service had no powers at all but his yellow UDF party characterised by the famous young democrats who could beat up or even killed innocent Malawians.

“From 1999 to 2004 we were beaten anyhow and if you report the issue to the law enforcers like the Police nothing was transpiring as some government officials were telling the Police not to do anything as it involved the then president Bakili Muluzi,” said James Makawa.

Makawa added that policemen were being beaten by party youths and nothing could take place. A case in point is when young democrats led by former UDF director of youth Henry Moyo beat up politicians and police officers at Kasungu Police station in central Malawi.

But the coming in of His Excellency the State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Bingu wa Mutharika has changed everything.

The President has been emphasizing on securing lives of Malawians for the country to be worth a living.

There is clear evidence for everybody to see because these days you don’t hear of people being beaten like was the case during Muluzi trial and era time.

“If you see a policeman these days you really know that they are part of securing the country as the State President wishes,” said Makawa.

A Blantyre resident, Makawa lamented that robbers that were terrorizing the country’s four cities, towns and main urban centres are being caught almost on daily and townships under Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika are better places to live in than ever before.

Malawi Digest has also found that the Malawi Police workforce is now operating effectively as the empowerment is from the first citizen himself than was the case under Bakili Muluzi.

Another man, Nganga Banda concurred with Makawa as he feels more secured now than during the Muluzi time.

“These days you are able to answer even a cell phone while in town a thing which was feared so much during Muluzi’s tenure. This is a good Malawi to live in with the incumbent President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika,” said Banda.

Banda added that during the Muluzi era, if one got delayed in town it was even scaring to hire a taxi because you could not know who is better to be with and even the taxi drivers were also scared to take people even during the day.

Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika’s empowerment of the Police has manifested as some of the well known murderers and robbers like Clive Macholowe are now behind bars.

Macholowe is a close Bakili Muluzi associate and when he was about to leave office, Muluzi pardoned Macholowe from his 10 year jail term.

Unconfirmed reports say that Muluzi has been having a love relationship with Mrs Macholowe, mother to Clive.

In addition, people who were well known for corruption like Bakili Muluzi were going home smiling though the police knew about their clandestine activities but these days all culprits including Bakili Muluzi commonly described by Rev Father Masakauko of the Catholic Church in Malawi as the Chejumo are being brought to book.

“If you see traffic police these days you know that they are there for the security and welfare of the people and not to make money as was the case during Muluzi’s time”, said one minibus driver.

Furthermore, Bingu’s government is building new Police houses to improve the welfare of the police which could not happen during Bakili Muluzi era.

In recent months, the public has seen that Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has bought hundreds of brand new Toyota Landcruisers for the Police in order to minimise the problem of transport in the Malawi Police Service.

As a result, the Police are able to respond to cases of crime on time.

The recent appointment of a highly qualified Inspector General of Police in the name of Peter Mukhitho has also brought confidence amongst Malawians to feel more secured.

Following his appointment as the new Inspector General of Malawi Police, Mukhitho vowed to help Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika in making sure that the country is secure from any kinds of thefts and insecurity issues.

Mukhitho also promised to make Malawi Police officers more visible in public in case people need help from the Police-Malawi Digest.