National News

Police recruitment mess worsens

The Malawi Police Service (MPS) recruitment mess that saw more recruits than planned turning up a month ago has worsened with 400 sent back and those retained staying idle for three weeks now.

Police sources said yesterday some of those turned back possessed fake appointment offer letters.

In May, MPS came under fire over the mess that characterised its 2016 constables recruit when double the shortlisted candidates showed up for interviews.

According to the list The Nation has seen, some of the dismissed candidates either possessed Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) when the minimum entry qualification was the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) or were above the age limit or were not medically fit.

Some of the police recruits were seen idling last month at Kanjedza Police Training School
Some of the police recruits were seen idling last month at Kanjedza Police Training School

National Police spokesperson Nicholas Gondwa on Thursday confirmed the developments, but dismissed reports that the recruitment has led to the interdiction of some officers at the training schools in Limbe, Mtakataka in Dedza and Mlangeni in Ntcheu.

He said: “I think the one who is feeding you that information is lying to you. But what I can confirm is that over 400 recruits have been sent back for failing to meet various requirements and we have settled for almost 1435 recruits in all the three camps.”

In addition, the new recruits are just spending taxpayer’s money as three weeks has passed and they are yet to start the training.

One recruit, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said MPS is sending back so many recruits and more are expected to be withdrawn.

measurements for the recruits’ uniforms and training gear.

He said: “Training will commence soon. We are currently doing documentation like taking their measurement and bank accounts. We cannot start training before all these are done. In addition, these people are not just staying, they do manual work and after that they will begin to do the actual physical training.”

In the proposed 2016/17 National Budget, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe announced that agencies such as police and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology would be allowed to recruit more people.

In May this year, MPS had released a list of about 700 people to undergo training at its three training schools.

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