UNCLE HARVEST: A CALL FOR POLICE COMPETENCE AND DISCIPLINE-- A REJOINDER

The Nation of Thursday 11 November 2021 carried an article titled, " Police IG for competence on internal security."

The Daily Times of the same day also carried an article titled, " IG calls for discipline."

This call was made by Dr. George Kainja, the Inspector General of Police at Police College in Zomba.

This was during an opening ceremony of a four months leadership and command course for middle-level management officers from the Malawi Police Service, the Malawi Prison Service, the Malawi Immigration and Citizenship Department, and the Rwanda Police.

Uncle Harvest joins the Inspector General of Police in this call.

These three Internal Security organs of government are always expected to exude confidence, competence, effectiveness and to inspire a sense of safety and security in the public.

Without competence and discipline, this cannot be attained.

The numerous incidents of indiscipline and incompetence that the junior officers in these organizations display to the public are indeed a reflection of the lack of supervisor foresight, or supervisory and leadership skills.

The call by the Inspector General must be commended and heeded by officers in these organs state and public security.

The public expects nothing less than the excellence of service from these institutions.

It is also hoped that this command and leadership course will sharpen analytical skills, problem-solving skills, decision-making skills and instill a sense of professional pride.

It is time the Malawi Defence Force is spared the frequent appearance on public streets because police officers lack professional courage and confidence to handle the public.

The police must work hard at building public trust and confidence. What breaks this trust is the unprofessional and indisciplined way police officers interact with the public.

A case in point is that of the use of teargas.

They throw teargas without due regard for the safety of the public.

Teargas is known to have affected children in hospital wards and recently to have disrupted students writing the Malawi School Certificate Examinations.

This to say the least is unprofessional. Competent officers scan their operational environment in order to determine their approach and tactics to be used in advance and as the situation develops.

Thumps up Inspector General for your call.