Malawi Police Service (MPS) has chucked out a total of 442 “bogus recruits” from its three police training schools in the country.
A combined total of 1455 people were successful in some compulsory interviews they underwent and were expected to start training at Limbe in Blantyre, Mtakataka in Dedza and Mlangeni in Ntcheu on May 3.
Surprisingly, more recruits turned up to the three colleges than those that were initially shortlisted, a development that raised eyebrows.
In handling the issue, police officials said they would conduct a verification exercise and an investigation as to what caused the unprecedented turn-up.
According to national police spokesperson, Nicholas Gondwa, the 442 have been identified to have gone to the schools without being invited.
“We have managed to send back 361 people from our Limbe Police Training School (PTS), 53 from Mtakataka and 28 from Mlangeni in Ntcheu. These people were just seeking employment from MPS but they had no proper offer letters, others had JCE certificates while others were medically unfit,” said Gondwa
Meanwhile, a notice by MPS in newspapers indicated that the minimum requirement for the recruits was a Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE).
Quizzed on why the fake recruits were just allowed to go scot-free without being questioned, Gondwa said their interest as MPS was to identify those 1455 that were originally recruited.
Gondwa further downplayed reports of some dubious deals and political interference into the recruitment process which is believed to be the reason why the number rose above 1455.
In earlier interview, Malawi Congress Party (MCP), President, Lazarus Chakwera faulted the Malawi Police recruitment system, saying it contributes to security lapse as the recruits are not professionally selected.
The training school in Limbe has the capacity to take up to 773 recruits, Mtakataka can take up to 591 trainees while Mlangeni can accommodate about 91 recruits.
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