Lilongwe, February 19: Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture, Kondwani Nankhumwa has asked Police Officers in the country to desist from begging from tourists as this affects growth of the tourism industry.
Speaking at a high level inter-ministerial networking dinner in Lilongwe, Nankhumwa said his ministry has received reports from people touring the country that the men in uniform liked asking things from them both at time of entry and when leaving the country.
This, Nankhumwa observed to have an impact on the tourism industry as many tourists might not be willing to visit the country for fear of being asked by the police officers to give them something.
“It is really sad to hear that the people we entrusted with the responsibility to secure our country and every person entering the country have diverted their responsibilities and engaged in immoral act of begging. This, honorable colleagues should not be underrated as it surely sends a bad picture to our potential tourist and further scary them away,” the Minister explained.
Other than the police, Nankhumwa appealed to the general public to also stop harassing tourists in border posts as he said this also has bad reflections on the country’s warm heartedness and negative impact on the sector.
In his turn, Minister of Home Affair and Internal Security, Paul Chibingu, promised to deal with such police officers saying the conduct paints a bad image on the police service and compromising the country’s security.
”I am ashamed because I didn’t know that some police officers are involved in such barbaric act. I have taken note of it and I promise to deal with anyone involved in the act,” assured Chibingu.
Meanwhile, Chibingu has asked the general public to report any immoral acts performed by the police.
“You will remember that during the Kamuzu era it was the community that arrested people and not the police therefore let us embrace that idea from now on anyone should consider him/herself as a police officer and report anything sinister performed by our men in uniform,” he said.
