Suspicious police transfers in the north

In a twist to the maize smuggling saga that led to the seizure of 30 trucks loaded with maize destined for Tanzania, the Malawi Police Service (MPS) has demoted and transferred top bosses for Karonga and Chitipa police stations, The Daily Times understands.

Sources within MPS indicate that Chitipa Police Station Officer-in-Charge, Rodrick Mtepa, and Karonga Police Station Officer-in- Charge, Sekani Tembo, have been demoted and moved allegedly for failing to keep in check the illegal exportation of maize in their respective districts.

While confirming the transfers, National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera described the movements as normal in the service.

“Every police officer is aware that he or she will be transferred at any given time. They will not remain where they are forever,” Kadadzera said in an interview.

Mpeta has been demoted to the position of station officer at Kasungu Police Station while Tembo has been deployed to Nkhata Bay where he will be deputy officer-in-charge.

According to Kadadzera, the transfers were made last week.

“The movements are not linked to the issue of maize; it is just a coincidence,” Kadadzera said.

Following the impounding of the trucks in Karonga and Chitipa en route to Tanzania, President Peter Mutharika ordered the deployment of Malawi Defence Force soldiers to all borders in the country to guard against illegal exportation of maize.

During the official opening of this year’s tobacco selling season on Tuesday in Lilongwe, Mutharika reiterated his call for strict guarding of the country’s entry points.

The police indicate that the trucks are owned by various Malawians and had no export permits.

Following the police’s action last month, some of those involved argued that the maize was intended for the market in the two districts.

However, Northern Region police spokesperson, Peter Kalaya, dismissed the claim, noting that the market in the two districts is way too small for the impounded quantities.

“We ask relevant stakeholders such as the Malawi Revenue Authority, courts and local leaders not to leave the enforcement of the maize ban to us alone. There is need for concerted efforts,” Kalaya said last week.