Malawi's Homeland Security Minister Peter Mukhito has defended a policy requiring local communities and Members of Parliament to self-fund the construction of new police outposts. Speaking in Parliament, Mukhito stated that the government will only provide architectural designs and deploy personnel once communities finish building the structures from scratch, according to Nyasa Times. To address growing national security demands, the minister also announced that the Malawi Police Service has received approval to recruit more than 6,000 new officers.
In a separate law enforcement development, the Malawi Police Service and the Independent Complaints Commission have launched an investigation into allegations of severe misconduct by a police officer in Mchinji. Nyasa Times reports that Sergeant Blessings Eliya, stationed at the Kapiri Police Unit, is accused of demanding sexual favours from an 18-year-old female suspect in exchange for her release from custody. Central West Police Region spokesperson Foster Benjamin confirmed the internal probe, and Independent Complaints Commission spokesperson Happy Njalam'mano noted that the watchdog is actively reviewing the case to determine appropriate actions.
Update: In ongoing citizenship fraud proceedings, businessman Chaudhry Azhar Mahmood and his wife have formally secured a temporary stay order from the Limbe Magistrate Court, suspending their impending arrest warrants. As previously reported, the couple faces charges of making false statements to public officers and fraudulently obtaining Malawian citizenship. According to Nyasa Times, defence lawyer Bright Theu confirmed the stay order will remain in effect until a scheduled court hearing, where the defence will argue to have the warrants permanently vacated. Private prosecutors have simultaneously petitioned the Director of Public Prosecutions to join the case.