Thyolo, June 16: The Anti-Corruption Bureau has stressed the important position Police occupy in the fight against corruption, observing that laxity by law enforcers in the battle would be disastrous for the country.
ACB Corruption Prevention Officer Ezilion Kasoka made the remarks during a daylong training for police officers and community policing in Thyolo on the evils of corruption.
According to Kasoka, the training followed a research by the Centre for Social Justice which revealed that the police service was among three government departments where corruption is rampant.
“So Anti-corruption Bureau wants to encourage police officers to desist from corrupt practices and be in the fore front of fighting corruption in the country. Public and private resources are being drained because of corruption.”
“It’s everyone’s responsibility to fight against corruption even the community should also report if the police officer engages in corrupt activity,” stated Kasoka.
Senior Commissioner of Police Reverend Masambuka was hopeful that the men and women in uniform would positively contribute towards the fight against corruption.
“This will only happen especially when police officers stop and report corrupt practices. Due to the shortage of resources in some circumstances we are training senior officers only so that they should take the message to the junior officers,” he explained.
Masambuka said the police service was doing everything possible to punish officers involved in corruption.
“People should also know their role and report any police officer who is involved in the malpractice,” he added.
Thyolo police station officer Boston Amanzi said the training would help reduce corrupt practices among officers in the district.
“We receive many complaints through suggestions boxes in our stations and I strongly believe the training will help to reduce the malpractice among police officers,” said Amanzi.
