In Parliament today in the capital Lilongwe, a legislator representing Ntcheu West asked Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma what his ministry is doing to address the problem where police mount too many roadblocks along the M1 road with the aim of benefiting themselves through extortions.
Responding to the question, Ng’oma told Parliament that his ministry has resolved to remove some roadblocks which he said are just being used by some police officers to collect money from motorists and other road users for personal benefits.
In eradicating this form of corruption, the Minister said will not only close the roadblocks but also that the Ministry will introduce an automated revenue collection system at roadblocks. Malawian motorists complain of the behavior of the Police demanding money from them for imaginary offenses, whose money they end up pocketing themselves.
In a country where many are unpatriotic, you wonder about seeing the police on the road as early as 4:00 am like hungry lions waiting to pounce on motorists and make money for their families. Much as security is important but surely what happens clearly points not in the direction of ensuring security for the nation but ensuring money security for their pockets. Now with this move, chickens have now come home to roost.
