By Vincent Gunde
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Police Service [MPS] has promoted 256 officers into various ranks within the service.
The development however has been described by many as transparent as compared to the last promotion of 2019 which made party loyalties getting the lion share.
It all started with new recruit names which were not printed on PDF that all candidates who sat for interviews must go to their district of origins to check if their names appear or not for Police Training School lessons.
Sons and daughters of police commissioners who have enjoyed the lion share of being recruited without interviews have been left out and there was drama on Thursday last week at the National Police headquarters demanding answers in protests on why they have been left out.
On the contrary, police officers promotions were printed on PDF for everyone to see, while others are in celebration with tears of joy, it has been alleged that out of 256 officers, there is no single std 8 and Junior Certificate holder who has made it into promotions.
Some officers entered the Malawi Police Service [MPS] with Primary School Leaving Certificate (PSLC) and Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) during their years, it was the highest qualification making one to wonder why they are not considered for promotions to senior positions.
It has also been observed that officer with PSLC and JCE holders are mentors to the newly University graduates from various constituent colleges of the University of Malawi training them to be discipline as a requirement of the Police service.
Speaking in condition of anonymity, sources expressed a great sympathy to PSLC and JCE holders in the service who are now been considered as useless out of newly graduates coming in to join the service from the Rank of Inspectors describing this as enemies of progress.
The source said PSLC and JCE holders are suffering for no promotions and are retiring at Sub. Inspector Rank a development which is very worrisome considering a great contribution they have made to the Malawi Police Service.
He gave an example of one Woman Sub Inspector in Lilongwe, she joined the service in 2000 with a Junior Certificate, upgraded herself to Malawi School Certificate of Educations (MSCE) in 2002, worked for 13 years to be promoted to the Rank of Sub Inspector.
“She was promoted by chance after her name was missing from the line of those to be promoted, some officers reminded the authorities of her name, a graduate who joined the service with her, has been promoted to the Rank of Deputy Commissioner,” said the source.
He said Woman Sub Inspector has served the service for 21 years and if she retires today, she will go home with a miserable face having attained the last grade of Sub Inspector describing this as an insult to PSLC and JCE holders in the service.
The source has since called upon President Lazarus Chakwera and Inspector General of Police Dr. George Kainja to re-look at the promotion list and consider with PSLC and JCE to senior positions so that in turn they thank them for having their welfare at heart.