The Commissioner of Police responsible for the Eastern Region, Mr. Happy Mkandawire, has warned traffic police officers to refrain from corrupt practices.

Mkandawire sounded the warning on May 10, 2021 at Police College in Zomba when he met traffic police officers from Zomba Police Station and Eastern Region Police Headquarters.

He said unconfirmed reports reveal that some traffic police officers are receiving bribes from taxi operators in the name of ‘kugula njira’ (buying the road).

Mkandawire said these reports are denting the image of the Malawi Police Service and warned that his office will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any traffic police officer implicated in the malpractice.

“I know that you are exposed to extreme danger on corruption but you still need to work professionally by rejecting bribes and arresting all those who want to bribe you, but if you entertain bribes, you will face the law.” Said Mkandawire.

He further condemned the tendency of some officers who go to work with an aim of solving their financial problems through collection of bribes.

He said, “the unfortunate part of life is that, you can be doing good at all times but once you do a slight mistake all the good deeds go unnoticed hence the need to be professional at all times”

In his remarks, Regional Traffic Officer, Superintendent Witness Kasonya, thanked the Commissioner for organizing the meeting.

He said, the warning has come at a right time as issues of corruption involving traffic police officers continue to resurface. He then assured the commissioner that he will make sure that all traffic police officers in the region and Malawi at large, execute their work professionally.