The newly appointed Acting Inspector General, George Kainja, has backed his recent shake-up in strategic branches of Criminal Investigations Department (CID), prosecution and community policing, saying they are meant to help reform the police services in the country.
Recently, the new acting IG made adminstrative changes to some top positions especially at Area 30.
Kainja, who admitted of the strained relationship with the public due to partisan policing and growing corruption, says he has made appointment in key positions to help his reform agenda in the quickest time possible.
He disclosed this on Sunday during an exclusive interview with one of the local radio stations in the country.
“I thank the President [Lazarus Chakwera] for appointing me as the Inspector General and also I thank God for giving me this opportunity. I am aware that there is a lot of public outcry on the way we have been discharging our duties, and that’s why I have already made some strategic position changes in key braches of police like CID, prosecution and commnity policing to bring back public confidence and trust in us.
“Under my reign I will make sure the country has well disciplined police officers, who values professionalisn and ethics to help end partisan policing which has dented our image for years. I will also introduce performance management that will among others allow collective decisions. I believe by accommodating their inputs will help them to feel recognised hence will be motivated to discharge their duties with professionalism,” says Kainja.
The Police Chief also backed recent police investigations and arrest on alleged crimes that were abandoned in the past for unknown reasons, saying as long as they gather evidence such cases will be prosecuted.
Kainja cited cases like Msundwe police rape, Issa Njaunju, Robert Chasowa and Area 24 UTM office arson that are likely to be brought to court for prosecution.
“Mlandu sumawola…and for some of you who watch television there is ID [Investigation Discovery on Discovery Channel on DSTV] programme in America where cases dating back as 30 or even 50 years are investigated and prosecuted. So the cases that we are investigating now are complaints that are coming from Malawians and this will be done without any political influence. For example, we will not spare anyone just because is from UTM, MCP [Malawi Congress Party] or DPP [Democratic Progressive Party]; and that’s why you have seen that some cases that failed to see the light of the day in the past are now being investigated. Let me dare that if we investigate any case involving those that are in government now, they will be prosecuted accordingly because that is what both the President and our minister [Richard Chimwendo Banda] has directed us to do without fear or favour,” he says.
Kainja also says he snubbed the post of the Deputy High Commission of Malawi to Zimbabwe because he was not consulted and that his dream is to retire in the Police Service.
“What prompted me to instruct my lawyers to obtain the Injunction was because I love my work as a police officer and my dream is to retire while serving the service. So my appointment as the Deputy High Commissioner came as a surprise because I was not consulted. That’s is why I went to court to seek relief because the laws were not followed in my appointment,” he says.
He said he will also lobby for more resources like vehicles which are currently 240 against the required fleet.
