Newly appointed Minister of Homeland Security, Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma, on Friday expressed President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera’s commitment to improving professionalism among police officers in order to achieve quality service delivery.
Ng’oma was speaking at the first-ever National Conference for the Independent Police Complaints Commission and Malawi Police Service.
The minister stressed that discipline is paramount in transforming the service. He pledged to work with international organizations to provide support to security agencies like the Malawi Police Service to improve security in the country.
Ng’oma further assured that President Chakwera’s administration is committed to promoting the rule of law and respect for human rights as key enablers of the Malawi 2063, which includes the development of effective governance systems and institutions.
In her remarks, the Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service, Merlyne Yolamu, expressed concern over the rising cases of vandalism of police properties by the public, which has affected police services.
The Malawi Police Service is working to enhance professionalism and discipline among its officers to address this issue.
UNDP Country Representative Shigeki Komatsubara expressed the organization’s commitment to supporting institutions that promote accountability, such as the Malawi Police Service.
The conference drew participants from the Malawi Human Rights Commission, the Anti-Corruption Bureau, and the Malawi Police Service, among others.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission was established under the 2010 Police Act to receive and investigate complaints by the public against police officers and the police service.