Malawi Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Atupele Muluzi, has said gangs have reached levels of criminal sophistication but has moved to reassure that government is doing all in their power to tackle the criminals.
Atupele Muluzi: Vows to crackdown on crime
He said they will equip law enforcers to crackdown on crime.
Muluzi said there is political will in the Professor Peter Mutharika administration to assign more resources to the law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety.
“What we are witnessing are highly sophisticated criminals,” said Muluzi in an interview which Nyasa Times monitored on Tuesday on Capital FM’s ‘Daybreak Malawi’ programme.
Muluzi said acts of cashgate; human trafficking, albino killings, and human body parts were all sophisticated crimes and emerging threats that government will crackdown .
The Minister declared war on crime, promising no mercy for criminals and help for the police service, which is overstretched and apparently unable to cope.
“We are working tirelesly in pursuit of these criminals and the emerging threats,” said Muluzi sounding more boldly.
He stressed that criminals have become “more organised and sophisticated”, saying government will be “enhancing capacity” for Malawi Police to prevent crime.
“We are committed to ensure that the public enjoys improved security,” said Muluzi.
Muluzi assured that Police will be properly trained, equipped and motivated to fight crime.
Malawi is planning to train 10,000 officers in line with the United Nations Guidelines for policing encapsulated under “one police officer to 500 civilians”.
The Minister stated that Police Service was facing “enormous challenges” in the wake of security lapses. But he commended the cops for doing “excellent job in working tirelessly” fighting crime.
“We are seeing action on the ground,” he said.
Muluzi said crime surge is a global phenomenon.
“Globally we have been seeing emerging threats of organised murders,” Minister of Internal Security said.
Muluzi said organised crime would be targeted especially, as would anyone who murdered a police officer and Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) director of corporate affairs Issa Njauju.
He added that law enforcing agencies will from now on take every necessary measure to stop and arrest the criminals.
“We are going to make sure that any criminal in this country will be caught and will be prosecuted,” said Muluzi.