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Malawi Security — A privilege for the blessed few |
SOCIAL CONDITION
Security remains a privilege for a blessed few in Malawi.
Crime prevention
and control over small arms have become key challenges
in the post-Banda
political dispensation. The rate of serious crime remains high
Malawi has been suffering a persistent level of armed violence, mainly perpetrated by younger men. The country still faces a serious threat from the possible sudden influx of small arms from armed conflicts in the region, even if peace agreements are reached and implemented, and from already existing violent crime in Malawi associated with the illegal possession of firearms.
According to Brian Wood, Pilot Project Manager of the Community Safety and Firearms Control project, «Malawi’s official crime statistics obtained by the pilot project staff, show that reported crime increased steadily between 1995 and 1999».
Sources of illegal firearms
Before Malawi’s political reforms, security was tight. A neighbour was a neighbour in the full sense of the word. But at the moment, neighbours as we used to know them, are ceasing to exist. Brick fences now surround many houses, but nowadays even brick fences are no longer enough — one can still be attacked in a fenced house.
Robert Mbirizi Phiri is a project coordinator for the pilot project on Community Safety and Firearms Control and Senior Programme Officer for the Public Affairs Committee (PAC). A recent study he produced, showed that the available statistics on the recovery of firearms do not give a breakdown of the exact locations where weapons were seized. But the geographical analysis of crime shows that the border areas appear to be likely sites and conduits for the illegal trafficking of firearms into Malawi, although other channels cannot be discounted. According to Phiri, «Certainly, Mozambique still has many unauthorised AK 47 assault rifles hidden in caches in mainly rural areas. Also, the areas bordering Zambia and Tanzania could be other channels for illegal weapons.
Brian Wood summarises the sources of illegal firearms in Malawi as follows:
* AKK 47 assault rifles from stocks left from the war in Mozambique, and imports via Zambia and Tanzania probably emanating from the wars in Congo and the Great Lakes;
* 9mm pistols made in South Africa and finding their way into Malawi through illegal markets;
* Government-issue firearms apparently «leaked» from police and perhaps army stocks;
* Hunting guns and homemade guns made locally.
Where are the police?
Brian Wood states: «The Malawi Police service is significantly under-strength compared to other police forces in the region. It lacks resources, training and specialist capacity such as firearms, ballistics, and forensic units to effectively combat the perpetrators. In addition, a legacy of distrust still exists between police and some communities, emanating from the past. There is also a lack of transport and communications equipment, resulting in local police failing to patrol and interact with communities. Furthermore, local police also complain of the light sentences meted out by magistrates for violent criminal offenders.
Because the police are unable to fully carry out their duties, there has been an unprecedented proliferation of private security services. Many of these come from South Africa. There are a few local companies mostly established by former army officers or police officers. Unfortunately, the rural and peri-urban communities do not have access to these services.
Reforms
In 1994, the Government initiated a police reform programme in order to change the face of the police force. In 1995, the Inspector General of Police emphasised Community-Police partnership as a means of combating crime: «My vision is that the reform process is going to bring us closer to the people we serve...All of us realise that the police cannot win the battle against crime. It needs the active support and cooperation from the public, which can only be achieved by developing an open partnership with them...»
The Malawi Police are currently undergoing a reform process with financial support from the British Government through the Department of International Development. As part of the reform process, the Malawi Police are implementing a Community Policing Programme (CPP) which has been launched at most district police stations.
A much needed legal reform is also taking place. It has been recognised that the Malawi Police Act needs to be reviewed and updated. According to Kamudoni Nyasulu, a former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and currently a private legal consultant: «Currently, all legislation relating to violent crime and firearms is in dire need of reform...Malawi’s Constitution does not recognise and authorize community policing. We still have a “Police Force” rather than a “Police Service”. Also, there are no clear guidelines governing how guns are obtained». Nyasulu proposes that there should be new legislation to govern private security services, private investigation services, joint community policing bodies such as Neighbourhood Watch.
While poverty remains the biggest challenge to Malawi, the proliferation of illicit firearms will continue and armed crime is bound to increase. Only the rich who can afford to pay for private security services will enjoy security. But for the majority poor, security in the foreseeable future remains the privilege of just a few.
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