By Draxon Maloya
The Malawi Police Service (MPS) have launched its five year strategic plan which is aimed at improving and mitigating some of the challenges affecting its smooth operation.
Minister of Homeland and security Richard Chimwendo Banda was at National police Headquarters in Lilongwe’s Area 30, presiding over the launch of MPS strategic plan for the period from 2019 – 2024.
Consultant for the MPS blueprint, Henley Chingaipe, says the strategic plan critically analyses the internal and external elements of police which among others is the ratio for an officer against his or her clients.
“One of the challenges facing the smooth service delivery is that one police officer is supposed to look after about 455 people, one police officer is currently looking after 1,226 people which constrain the effort to diligetly perform duties,” Chinaipe said. .
Chingaipe further narrated that the process of coming up with the strategic plan involved consultations with various stakeholders.
He said they used the method of institutional diagnosis to finally come up the plan which will assist in providing short and long term solutions to some of the challenges crippling the Malawi Police Service.
Currently the Malawi Police Service is facing numerous challenges like inadequate staff houses, vehicles, uniforms and proper office structures to much with modern police services in neighboring countries and the world at large.