Community members in Karonga have all reasons to afford a smile as Karonga Police Station has revealed plans to intensify security in communities through community policing.

The development comes after some communities in the district have been recently involved in violent and criminal activities.

In an interview, Officer-In-Charge of Karonga Police Station Tiyese Chiumbuzo said currently, the men and women in uniform are in talks with the community members so that they work hand in hand with the police on security matters in their locality.

He said: “We want to establish community police forum where members of the Community and the police will me sharing issues happening their communities. If we do this, I am optimistic that it will solve some of the insecurity issues that the communities have been facing previously.”

Commenting on the development, Group Village Head Chakwera thanked the police for the initiative saying levels of theft and other criminal activities such as rape and defilement are on the rise in several parts of the district.

Chakwera also asked police and other stakeholders to fight gender based violence against (GBV) girls and women in the district saying they are also becoming rampant.

“It’s sad that we are losing young girls from school because of GBV, and some are even sent to work and get married to neighboring Tanzania. It’s quite pathetic,” he said

In the past years, some people in the district lost their lives due to land wrangles as well as witchcraft allegation.