By: Staff Reporter
People around Kawalazi Tea Estate in Nkhata Bay danced all night long on Friday to early morning Saturday following the transfer of senior police officers at Nkhatabay police station whom they say have been used by estate owners to harass locals.
There have been misunderstandings between the Kawalazi Estates management and people around the plantations on issues bordering on demarcation and land encroachment.
Upon hearing reports that the officer in-charge, Assistant Commissioner, Morgan Dzonzi and the station officer Senior Superintendent, Lano Kamwendo have been transferred to other duty stations, people around the estates gathered chanted and danced all night long.
One of the civil society leaders at Kawalazi accused the ministry of lands for failing to release a report on the boundary verification which was conducted last year on instruction from former minister, Kezzie Msukwa.
However, the new lands minister, Samuel Kawale declined to comment on the matter despite getting several reminders to the questionnaire this publication sent him.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Nkhatabay police was deploying officers to secure the Estate who in the process of discharging their duties harass villagers around the tea, coffee, macadamia and tree plantations for encroachment and tracepassing.
In an interview Nkhatabay police public relations Officer, Sergeant Kondwani James refused to comment referring this publication to Northern Region Police Headquarters publicist, Sub-Inspector Maurice Chapola.
In his response Chapola said a few misguided lawbreakers around the estate think that when officers have been transferred means that they will be free from the long arm of the law when they commit crime.
“Police cannot condone any conduct that is likely to cause bleach of peace, those who celebrated the transfer of police officers should be in the know that police will always protect life and property, ” Chapola said.
Commenting on alleged accusations that deployed police officers to Kawalazi Estate have found a gold mine pocketing K240 000 each per week when they provide security for seven days Chapola rubbished the allegation as unfounded, baseless and illogical.
In a related development, Senior Superintendent Peter Kalaya has replaced James Kadadzera as National Police Spokesperson and transferred to replace Morgan Dzonzi at Nkhatabay Police station as officer in-charge.
Meanwhile Police High Command has confirmed the development; saying Kadadzera is moving to Nkhatabay as Officer-In-Charge.
"Very true, he has been moved for his career growth in the Malawi Police Service, he is moving to be Officer in Charge, Nkhatabay preparing him for future leadership in police operations and administration," said Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Kainja.
Comments