Blantyre Police Public Relations Officer, , says the station has not recorded any cases of street connected children attacks on residents of late.
According to Mchiza, Blantyre Police recorded eight cases in 2022, five cases in 2023, and that there has been no case so far in this year’s first two months (January and February).
“In 2024 we have plans to intensify security by increasing police visibility and crime monitoring using technology (CCTV) planted in all the strategic places in town,” he said.
However, founder of Step Kids Awareness (STEKA), Godknows Maseko, has said that there was need to take care of the street connected children’s basic needs other than condemning them.
“Lack of parental guidance and love, lack of protection, lack of essentials and discrimination against them drive the children into the street to become street connected. Break up of families is another contributing factor,” said Maseko.
He observed that the street connected children are often vulnerable to malnutrition, illnesses, injuries and other misfortunes while in the street and often resort to find means of survival.
Maseko said the only way society can deal with the street connected children attacks is to have stable families other than family breakdowns, adding this could minimize presence of children in the streets.
“These children miss parental care, love, peace and basic needs,” he added and asked communities to join hands in taking the children out of streets to deal with the attacks.
Sugarcane seller at Blantyre Market, Martha Stewart, commended the police for tightening security in the city for the benefit of residents who mostly complain of evening and night attacks and theft of valuables, such as phones and laptops.
“As of now, we are able to do business without any disturbance or fear of the street connected children.
‘I am able to walk from home at four in the morning to my business place or sell my goods at late hours without fear because police are everywhere,” she said, and asked relevant authorities to collaborate in removing street connected children from the streets to ensure zero case of attacks.
Copied:MANA
