Written by Richard Kayenda

MZUZU-(MaraviPost)—Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has on Wednesday promoted all the junior officers following the demands by the latter to be given promotions and risk allowances, else take an industrial action.

According to a memo that the Director General of the Department, Masauko Medi, issued on 13 May, 2020, the promotions are with effect from Tuesday 12 May, 2020.

“The Director General Congratulates all constables and sergeants for being promoted from the post of constable (MII) to sergeant (grade K) and from sergeant grade (MI) to Sub-Inspector (grade J) respectively, with effect from 12th May, 2020,” reads the letter partly.

Apparently, the Department has promoted even those junior officers who just joined the Department in 2018 and have not yet completed their two year probationary period as per the civil service regulations.

The promotions seem to have been effected haphazardly after the concerned officers wrote a letter on 9 May, 2020, threatening to take an industrial action should their superiors not consider the concerns they raised by today (Thursday).

The junior officers have not been promoted since 2008 and they do not receive their risk allowances on time whenever they are performing roadblock duties and routine patrols in the face of Covid-19 pandemic.

Recently, junior officers from the Malawi Police Service (MPS), Malawi Prison (MP) and Malawi Defense Force (MDF) also got promoted to different ranks.