By Dorica Mtenje
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Despite the country registers zero terrorism, Malawi has join the rest of SADC member states in encountering terrorism and violent extremism.
Minister of Homeland, Jean Sendeza disclosed this on Friday during a national round table on countering terrorism and violent extremism in Lilongwe.
Sendeza said the meeting will train security agencies and the judiciary in the country to be prepared in case the case of terrorism emerged.
She said terrorists are exploiting social media, encrypted communications and the dark web to spread propaganda, recruit new followers and coordinate attacks and our national strategy needs to be as responsive and multifaceted if the threats arise.
The minister said government will support civil society organisations who make a unique and invaluable contribution to tackling terrorism and preventing violent extremism.
She said CSOs will be engaging women and young people so that they can play meaningful roles in developing, monitoring and implementing counter-terrorism policies and programmes.
“There has been a shift towards less sophisticated attacks against softer targets that are more difficult to detect and prevent,So as the threat from terrorism continues to evolve, we must adapt and learn lessons from what works and what does not,” said Sendeza.
She therefore applaud United Nations Office on Drugs and crime(UNODC) for including Malawi as a beneficially to its project on Supporting SADC Countries to Strengthen Rule of Law-based Criminal Justice Responses for Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism’ under the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund.
In her remarks Chief Resident Magistrate, Madalitso Chimwaza said the training will help the judicially as well as all the security agencies in the country to administer fair justice on issues related to terrorism.
Chimwaza said the judicially is waiting for the upcoming bill in Parliament for proper consideration of terrorism cases.
