By Burnett Munthali
On Friday 12 April 2024, president Reverend Lazarus his capacity as Commander-In-Chief of the Malawi Police Service, presided over the passing-out parade ceremony of new police recruits at Limbe Police Training School.
The new cohort brings to over 6,000 the number of police constables Malawi has commissioned since Chakwera’s administration assumed power in 2020 at which time, the total number of law enforcers was at 13,500.
The President reminded the new recruit constables of their obligation to uphold values that guide their profession as a disciplined police service.
He said his administration will continue investing in building a modern law enforcement service that has enough capacity to promote law and order and facilitate the entrenchment of civic rights.
The 4000 police housing units under construction across the country, offering relevant training, acquisition of modern software and hardware and improved better conditions of service are some of the interventions the government is pursuing to build a modern Malawi Police Service.
Out of the number, 849 are male recruits while 518 are females.
President Lazarus Chakwera says his administration has strengthened the human resource capacity of the Malawi Police Service by employing 6,000 more law enforcers since taking over power in the 23 June 2020 presidential election.
He says the country now has 19,570 law enforcers, up from 13,500 then.
The President admitted that the country requires about 40,000 police officers to be in line with the recommended one police officer to 500 civilians ratio.
He says, currently, one police officer serves over 1,000 civilians.
The President made the remarks at Police Training School in Limbe, Blantyre, during the pass out parade of 1,367 recruits.
