MPs claim roadblock police are corrupt
The Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Climate Change has said the fight against charcoal burning in the country will not be won because corruption is rampant among police officers and other government officers manning roadblocks.
But police have said the fight is being lost because many people are afraid to tip off the police about law breakers.
The parliamentary committee members made the claim at Parliament on Friday when they met Judiciary and Malawi Police Service (MPS) top brass on the implementation of laws governing transportation and movement of forest products in the country.
Members of the committee wondered why, with so many roadblocks on our roads, charcoal sellers still find their way out to various suburbs in our towns and cities.
Chairperson of the committee Werani Chilenga claimed that police officers at roadblocks are enriching themselves by taking advantage of law breakers, especially those trafficking banned forestry products.
“I can challenge you, and I can give you evidence on how corrupt officers that are manning road blocks in the country are,” said Chilenga.
In response, Deputy Inspector General Duncan Mwapasa told the committee that corruption is rampant in the country because many people are afraid to tip off the police regarding law breakers.
He told the committee that MPS have been in the forefront implementing the laws on trafficking forestry products, except that the implementation falls short of expected standards. n
