Female cops arrest 100 in ‘basadi’ operation
South West Police Region female officers have arrested about 100 suspects in connection with different offences during the three days of basadi operation.
During the operation, the female police officers played different leading roles which their male counterparts in uniform usually do.
In an interview, South West Police Region deputy spokesperson Edith Kachotsa described the operation as a success following the arrest of the 100 suspects.
However, she said the operation mainly focused on the wanted persons suspected of committing crimes against women and children.
Said Kachotsa: “We targeted suspects who previously committed offenses such as defilement, abduction and rape.
“We arrested four defilement suspects and one of them has been convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. We also arrested other people who contravened Covid-19 regulations.”
In a separate interview, one of the female police officers who participated in the operation, Linda Mkuwu from Blantyre Police Station, said the operation also enhanced their skills of handling different crimes.
“We planted snap roadblocks and we held awareness campaigns on gender-based violence in schools and rural areas,” she said.
Mkuwu, who is also a child protection officer, said they will continue with similar operations.
Basadi means women in Tswana and the operation focuses on combating crimes such as rape, assault, human trafficking, domestic violence, child labour and baby dumping, among others, handled by female police officers.
South West Region comprises Mwanza, Neno, Chileka, Ndirande, Blantyre and Limbe police stations while South East Region consists of Nsanje, Chikwawa, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Mulanje and Phalombe police stations.
