Junior Police Officers in the Central East Police Region are protesting against the idea of guarding Chipiku stores which is a private company for free.

Past weeks social media platforms were flooded with memos from different police stations across the country deploying police officers to provide security to Chipiku stores making it clear that the service will be provided free of charge.

The memo went as far as threatening to deal with any police officer who will fail to report to the store s/he is assigned.

The development received negative reactions from the general public considering that the said stores are not owned by the government.

The police officers under the anonymity condition complained that by providing free security to Chipiku stores, their lives are in danger saying they cannot go anywhere to complain should they be attacked at night as there are no any signed documents on the arrangement.

Reacting to the matter, Commissioner of Police responsible for Central East Police Region, Happy Mkandawire said that there have been reports of theft in Chipiku stores hence the development.

“The arrangement is free of charge because it is our own initiative following a spate of vandalism and looting of Chipiku stores recently and that as police we are entitled to provide security to anyone in the country.” Mkandawire said.

Authorities from the Ministry of Homeland Security are yet to comment on the matters as the populace continues to debate over the matter.