Malawi Police Service

Malawi Police Service
Malawi Police Service
Common name	Malawi Police
Abbreviation	MPS
Motto	Creating a Safe and Secure Malawi
Agency overview
Formed	1921
Preceding agency	Nyasaland Police Force;
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	MW
	Map of Malawi showing Malawi Police Service Jurisdiction
Size	118,484 square kilometres (45,747 sq mi)
Population	21,196,629
Legal jurisdiction	Malawi
Governing body	Ministry of Homeland Security
General nature	Civilian police ;
Operational structure
Headquarters	Malawi National Police Headquarters Area 30, Lilongwe, Lilongwe 3, Malawi.
Police Officers	<14,500
Agency executive	George Kainja, Inspector General of Police ;
Parent agency	Malawi Ministry of Homeland Security
Departments	List • Community Policing and Rural Police Units; • Criminal Investigations Department; • Traffic Department; • Marine Department; • Airport Police; • Police Mobile Services; • Administration Branch; • Information Technology; • Research and Planning Unit; • Prosecutions and Legal Department; • Internal Affairs Unit; • Press and Public Relations; • HIV and AIDS Department; • Spiritual Department;
Regions	List • Northern; • Central; • Southern; • Eastern; •Central East ; •South East;
Website
	www.police.gov.mw

Last updated December 10, 2023

The Malawi Police Service is an independent organ of the executive that is mandated by the constitution to protect public safety and the rights of persons in Malawi.^[2] The Malawi Police Service is overseen by an Inspector General of Police.

Police Ranks

Inspector General

The Inspector General is the head of the Malawi Police Service. The position is appointed by the President of Malawi and confirmed by the National Assembly.^[2] The Public Appointments Committee may at any time inquire as to the competence of the person.^[2] The Inspector General of Police can only serve for five years in that position.^[2] The Inspector General of Police can be removed by the president for being incompetent, incapacitated, compromised, or reaching retirement age.^[2] The Inspector General oversees the Malawi Police Service (MPS) under Ministry of Internal Affairs and Public Security.^[3] The Inspector General is assisted by a Deputy and two commissioners who run the administration and operations respectively.^[4] The current Inspector General is remembered for strengthening MPS by establishing two new policing regions, that is, Central East and South East^[5]

Inspector generals:

IGP	Deputy IGP	Years in Office	Administration
Mrs M. Yolamu	Happy Mkandawire	2022 to Date	Lazarus Chakwera
Mr George Kainja	Mrs. Meryln Yolamu	2020 to 2022	Lazarus Chakwera
Mr Duncan Mwapasa	xx	2019-2020	Peter Mutharika
Mr Rodney Jose	xx	2018-2019	Peter Mutharika
Dr Lexten Shame Kachama	Duncan Mwapasa	2016- 2018	Peter Mutharika
Mr Paul Rodrick Kanyama	Lexten Kachama	2015- 2016	Peter Mutharika
Mr Lot T.P Dzonzi	Nelson Bophani	2012–2015	Joyce Banda
Mr Peter M Mukhito	x	2009 - 2012	Bingu wa Mutharika
Mr Oliver Mathews Cedric Kumbambe	x	2006-2009	Bingu wa Mutharika
Mrs Mary Nangwale	x	2004 - 2006	Bingu wa Mutharika
Joseph Ellywn Aironi	x	2001-2004	Bakili Muluzi
Mr Lawrence Chimwaza	x	2000-2001	Bakili Muluzi
Mr Bernard B. Mphinji	x	2000-2000	Bakili Muluzi
Mr Kennedy S.M Chirambo	x	1999-2000	Bakili Muluzi
Mr Patrick Chikapa	x	1995-1999	Bakili Muluzi
Mr Feyani Morrison Chikosa	x	1994-1995	Bakili Muluzi
Mcwilliam Lunguzi	x	1990-1994	Kamuzu Banda, Bakili Muluzi
Mr Milward Gibson Namasani	x	1988-1990	Kamuzu Banda
Mr Elliot Fanuel MBedza	x	1987-1988	Kamuzu Banda
Mc Lywell Ezron Ngwata	x	1987-1987	Kamuzu Banda
Mr John Kamwana	x	1981-1987	Kamuzu Banda

Societal Impact

During the Hastings Banda regime the police were involved in suppressing dissent. After the 8 March 1992 pastoral letter:

There were public demonstrations in support of the bishops - notably at the University in Blantyre and Zomba, where soldiers indicated their support for the students and deterred violent police action against the protesters. This was the first sign of the army's future political role. In May 1992 student protesters were joined by striking workers in Blantyre. In two days of riots dozens of protesters were killed by armed police and Young Pioneers.^[6]

The capabilities of the Malawi Police Service are growing, but its abilities to deter and investigate crimes, assist victims, and apprehend criminals are extremely limited. The police lack basic equipment (particularly transportation), are poorly funded, and do not receive sufficient training. Public support for the police has continued to drop, due in part to alleged corruption and ineffectiveness in deterring criminal activity.^[7]

Related Research Articles

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References

↑ "Est Malawi Population July 2020". Central Intelligence Agency: The World Factbook. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
1 2 3 4 5 "Chapter XV : The Police" (PDF). Humanrightsinitiative.org. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
↑ "About MPS - Malawi Police Service". Communitypolicing.mw. 5 October 1921. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
↑ "Malawi / Africa / Member countries / Internet / Home - INTERPOL". Interpol.int. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
↑ Reporter, Nyasa Times (25 August 2020). "Malawi Police Establishes Two More Policing Regions". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
↑ Richard Carver, Malawi: Between the Referendum and the Elections, 1 May 1994, accessed April 2021, citing Amnesty International, "Malawi March–July 1992: mass arrests of suspected government opponents", (AI Index: AFR 36/37/92), September 1992.
↑ "Malawi 2019 Crime & Safety Report". www.osac.gov. Retrieved 24 October 2020.

External links

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[1] "Est Malawi Population July 2020". Central Intelligence Agency: The World Factbook. Retrieved 13 April 2020.

[autogenerated1-2] 1 2 3 4 5 "Chapter XV : The Police" (PDF). Humanrightsinitiative.org. Retrieved 25 October 2013.

[3] "About MPS - Malawi Police Service". Communitypolicing.mw. 5 October 1921. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.

[4] "Malawi / Africa / Member countries / Internet / Home - INTERPOL". Interpol.int. Retrieved 25 October 2013.

[5] Reporter, Nyasa Times (25 August 2020). "Malawi Police Establishes Two More Policing Regions". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 14 October 2020.

[6] Richard Carver, Malawi: Between the Referendum and the Elections, 1 May 1994, accessed April 2021, citing Amnesty International, "Malawi March–July 1992: mass arrests of suspected government opponents", (AI Index: AFR 36/37/92), September 1992.

[7] "Malawi 2019 Crime & Safety Report". www.osac.gov. Retrieved 24 October 2020.

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