By Deogratias Mmana:
Malawi Police Service needs to fill its two senior vacant positions as part of the country’s preparations for the elections in September, commentators say.
Currently, Malawi Police Service does not have officers in the two most senior roles directly under the Inspector General of Police (IG) as the command structure provides.
This follows the death of Deputy Inspector General for operations Casper Chalera in October last year and retirement of Deputy Inspector General for administration, Happy Mkandawire, in February.
Now with the road to the elections getting busier and characterised by cases of violence, governance and human rights commentators feel a fully structured police is key to policing the path to the elections.
The commentators have also advised the Police Service Commission to choose the right candidates for the two positions based on merit.
Executive Director of the Church and Society of the Blantyre Synod of the CCAP Reverend Master Jumbe has called upon the authorities to avoid politicising the police service in filling the vacancies.
“The Malawi Police Service is supposed to be apolitical and away from tribal affiliations; so we urge the Police Service Commission to pick the right candidates based on merit for the positions and not because of political connection or regional connection.
“The two positions are key and there is a need for urgency to fill them. The cases of political violence we have recorded call for the Malawi Police Service to increase its capacity, part of which is by filling those key positions,” Jumbe said.
Jumbe said as the nation heads to the September 16 elections, the role of the police is “very paramount in enforcing law and order.”
Executive Director for Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation, Michael Kaiyatsa, said the delay in filling the vacancies would constitute a serious lapse that can have dire consequences for the country as it moves towards elections.
“In light of the escalating political violence, it is critically important that these leadership positions be filled immediately with individuals of proven integrity and competence.
“Failure to do so now hampers the MPS ability to effectively manage and prevent political violence but also signals a lack of political will to uphold democratic principles and protect human rights,” Kaiyatsa said.
National police spokesperson Peter Kalaya confirmed that Mkandawire is on leave pending retirement.
Asked as to when the vacancies will be filled, Kalaya said the matter is beyond the MPS as it is handled by the Police Service Commission.
According to information on the MPS website, www.police.gov.mw, there are six policing regions headed by police commissioners.
Our search shows that the MPS has the following pool of commissioners from which the deputy IGs could come from: Richard Luhanga, Commissioner for the Northern region; Noel Kaira, Commissioner for South East; Emmanuel Soko, Commissioner for South West; Rhoda Manjolo, Commissioner for Central East; Chikondi Chingadza, Commissioner for Eastern Region; Babra Mchenga Tsiga, Commissioner for Central West; Dennis Chipao, Commissioner for research and planning; Violet Magwaya, Commissioner for human resources management and development and Ackis Muwanga, Commissioner responsible for operations.
Currently, Merlyne Yolamu heads the Malawi Police Service, serving a three-year contract that runs up to 2026. In the organogram of the police service, she is supposed to have two deputies, for administration and operations.
Yolamu reached retirement age in 2023 before President Lazarus Chakwera handed her the contract.
The IG is appointed by the President, and is subject to confirmation by the Public Appointments Committee of the National Assembly.
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