South West Region Police Research and Planning Coordinator, Superintendent Owen Douglas Linzie, has said the region is making strides in the fight against crime despite registering a slight increase.
Linzie revealed this following a bi-annual report released by the office after a serious scrutiny of the region’s performance, which shows that crime has increased by 5% from 8% that was registered during the same period last year.
According to the report, from January to June 2024, the region registered a total of 3,596 criminal cases, compared to 3,429 cases registered over the same period in 2023, representing a 5% increase.
The report shows that homicide, break-ins, theft, and assault cases increased, while robberies and sexual offenses decreased.
Homicide shot up by 51%, break-ins and theft went up by 8%, and assault by 3%, while robbery and sexual offenses were reduced by 17% and 7%, respectively.
According to Linzie, the rise in homicide and assault is a result of mob justice and disagreements between individuals, while break-ins and theft are attributed to socioeconomic hardships and released convicts.
Regarding how the region managed to drop to 5% from 8% last year, the report shows that increased police visibility, intelligence-driven operations, and community participation in crime fighting contributed to the success.
He therefore said residents of the city, including students, have no reason to fear, as all security measures are in place, leaving no room for attacks allegedly perpetrated by street-connected children.
In terms of traffic management, the report shows that accidents have decreased by 60, with 822 accidents registered in 2023 compared to 762 accidents registered this year.
Limbe and Mwanza registered an increase, while the rest of the stations registered a decrease, with a constant figure of 60 people who died during the period under review in 2023 and 2024.
According to the Research and Planning Coordinator, the region is confident in its ability to further deal with crime, as it has implemented a number of strategies that include the introduction of additional patrol teams, the promotion of criminal intelligence collection, the installation of additional closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs), and the empowerment of community policing and neighborhood watch teams.MALAWIANS URGED TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS RESPONSIBLY
Members of of the group called Mbadwa Zokhuzidwa have urged Malawians in the country as well as those living in diaspora to make sure that whatever they post on Social Media promotes peace and unity of Malawi .
Speaking on Saturday during Press Conference in Lilongwe, Leader for the grouping Fredrick Billy Malata said some people are busy circulating fake news using media platforms which has potential to destroy image of the country and at the same time create enemity among people.
During the Press Conference, members also condemned tendency of using unregistered media platforms such as Bakili Muluzi TV and Limpopo FM saying they know those behind such platforms.
Malata also some members of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) who are attacking each other to buy sympathy from delegates ahead August Convention.
“What is happening may destroy the party and have negative impacts during the road to 2025 elections”, said Malata.
He indicated that the most position which is hot for the conventional campaign is that of Secretary General where candidates fighting each other secretly.
He further advised them to remember that such campaign of castigating each other may damage the party and opposition may capitalize on that situation.
Members challenged to that will continue to condemn such tendency by political parties.
