Inspector Catherine Snowden Francis Pangani

There are certain professions that are not publicised, yet they are not just important but fascinating as well. One of them is that of a firearms and ballistic officer. Catherine Snowden Francis Pangani holds that job. She is the only woman in Malawi who fixes, cleans and takes care of all guns at Southern Region Police Headquarters. Pangani is also used as a firearm’s expert during court cases. She shares her story with ALBERT SHARRA.

Who is Catherine?

I was born sometime in the 1970s. I am a first born in a family of five—four girls and a boy. My mother comes from Drahaman Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Juma, Mulanje and my father is from Nankuyu Village, T/A Nkalo, Chiradzulu. My father was a civil servant and has served in various government departments including the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), ministries of Agriculture and Health. He retired. He is concentrating on farming. My mother has been a housewife.

I am a single mother with one child. I also live with my sister’s child. I am a police officer discharging my duties at Southern Region Police Headquarters in Blantyre.

How was your growing up?

My growing up has been both fascinating and focused. I was born in Area 18. I lived there until I joined the Malawi Police Service. I did my Standard One to Five at Chimutu LEA School. I did the rest of my primary education at National Police Headquarters Primary School in Area 30.

I was very fortunate to be selected to Bwaila Secondary School. However, due to some reasons I attended Mkwichi Secondary School in Area 47 where I did Form One to Four between 1993 and 1997.

I describe my growing up as very fascinating because of the guiding muscle that has been behind me. My parents have been the fuel of my life and I am happy that I achieved their wish—to be a successful woman.

What does your job involve?

I am responsible for taking care of all guns and ammunition and fixing malfunctioning guns. I am happy with my job and I am fascinated with working on guns. However, it was a challenge during the training period and my first days in office. I was scared.

I am able to clean and service any type of gun available in the world. The exceptional part of the training was that we studied all types of guns and learnt the basics of handling each type. That is why I can handle a gun I have never seen before.

I can also assemble parts from old guns to make another one. A gun is part of my life. I am always happy to see a gun working perfectly after passing through my hands. I have been in the profession for five years now and I am enjoying my job.

I also clean and fix guns owned by private people and institutions. I also counsel and teach how to use a gun and how to take care of it.

What happened for you to take up such a job?

I call it God’s will. I am saying this because I picked this challenging career among several opportunities. I joined the Police Service as a general duties police officer in 1998, just a year after sitting for my MSCE examinations. I did my training at Limbe Police Training School and was posted to Nkhata Bay Police Station.

In 2001, I was transferred to Northern Region Police Headquarters in Mzuzu to work as a typist in the department of prosecution. Then, in 2002, due to my hard-working spirit, I was promoted to a sergeant.

A year later, I was posted to Mzuzu Police Station. Members of the police welfare grouping saw the potential in me to head their activities. I call the year 2003 as a year of recognitions. On May 1, I was promoted to sub inspector. I also served as HIV and Aids coordinator for the station–an opportunity that exposed me to different people. My job was in advocacy and promotion of human welfare.

However, it was the same time I saw an internal vacancy for recruit armour. I applied and I was the only female candidate who was picked out of the 21 police officers on the list. We went for training at Mlangeni Police Training School in March 2007 and graduated three months later.

What happened to the other positions you were holding?

While I was at the training school, I got a letter informing me that I needed to take up the position of deputy HIV and Aids coordinator at National Police Headquarters in Lilongwe. However, I took the position after the training.

While in Lilongwe, I participated in several trainings in HIV and Aids including counselling and behaviour change.

I could see the impact my work had on both the police community and civilians. But, there were times when I felt I was in a wrong direction.

I considered that I had trained as a police officer and also as armour, but was doing something totally different. This was being mirrored by my childhood dream to become an engineer. Working in the firearms and battalion was in line with my dream.

In 2009, I wrote the inspector general (IG) to allow me to return to my passion. I was posted to take the position of firearms and ballistic officer in Blantyre the same year. Last year, I was promoted to inspector.

What are challenges that you face in the course of your work?

There are two main challenges. The first is to do with the community I live in and the perception people in the community have when it comes to career choice. Many people, including some workmates have questioned my interest in this job. They say it is a man’s job. When some people see me in the workshop with oils on my uniform and hands, they regard me differently. I am a woman, but with the capacity to take challenges in life.

Another challenge is availability of spare parts for guns. Most of the spare parts are bought from outside the country. To get them is not easy. There have been times when I have failed to fix a gun just because we had no spare parts. Again some of the guns are archaic and they require frequent fixing. However, I don’t mind fixing them as it is my job.

I need to be careful when fixing the guns. A simple mistake can cause a big harm. I am supposed to make sure all guns that are given to police officers are fit for use and have right bullets.

Apart from working on the guns, what else do you do?

I basically have two offices. One is for minor maintenances, the other for administrative work. In addition to fixing guns, I am responsible for filing ballistic and firearms reports. I am also involved in representing the State in court cases involving firearms because I know all types of guns and I can recognise a gun by just hearing a gunshot or looking at the damage caused by the bullet.

What exactly do you like about your job?

I am the only qualified female in the country who does this job. That brings a smile on my face. I see myself as an achievement for the police service’s initiative on the gender balance fight.

The feedback I get from the private people and institutions I help, motivates me a lot.

Are you dreaming beyond your job?

Yes. My parents taught me to aim high in life. I will be the happiest person if I achieve my dream of heading my department. I want to be officer in-charge of the department. I have the capacity and I believe I will achieve this one day.

Who is your role model?

She is Doreen Kapanga, the deputy Inspector General. Her success story and courage inspires me a lot.

What do you do during your free time?

I spend most of my free time cleaning my house. I am a member of Kanjedza Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) and I enjoy reading spiritual texts. I am also a member of the choir at the church and I enjoy singing. I think a lot about success, especially when travelling or resting at home. I usually get solutions to some of the guns that have caused me headache while walking in the street or through dreams. This is why I say God wanted me to be in this profession.