Judiciary arms court marshals
The Judiciary has created a special security section in a move that will see court marshals receiving special training that will enable them possess and use firearms.
This section will reduce the number of security officers that the Judiciary normally hires from the Malawi Police Service (MPS) during high security cases.
Malawi Judiciary Security Committee chairperson Sylvester Kalembera, a jusge of the High Court of Malawi, said during the opening of a 30-day training at Ntakataka Police Training School in Dedza yesterday that they will train about 120 officers, with 60 undergoing the training in the first cohort.
He said: “We are creating a particular section in the Judiciary which will in a way create a clear career path which we hope our men in the security section are going to take advantage of.”
On his part, Commissioner of Police Joseph Chambuluka said the training, which will be conducted by MPS, will help ease the demand for security from the Judiciary.
He said: “Safety precautions must be taken at all times. It is important to bear in mind that not all situations will demand that we use firearms. Firearms should be used to disable and not to kill. As court marshals, you should understand that you hold the key to the security of the Judiciary.”
Chambuluka also took the opportunity to dispel rumours that MPS is training political youth supporters (cadets), saying the trainees are only court marshals.
