Security Personnel Hailed for Maintaining Peace during Polls

Officer in Charge for Ntcheu, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Obrey Nyirenda has commended security personnel in the district for maintaining highest standards of peace and order during the May 21 tripartite elections.

Briefing the district elections supervisory team (DEST) on Tuesday, Nyirenda said security personnel which included police, Malawi Defense Force (MDF) soldiers and prison warders and wardresses worked with zeal and dedication during the just ended polling process.

He said the commitment and coordination shown by the security personnel in ensuring that no security threat ensued in the district manifest the dedication and professionalism of the security agencies.

“We had a combination of security personnel from three security agencies in the district and the way they have worked together is very commendable because we have had no cases reported to do with lack of security or any other wrong doing,” said Nyirenda.

The OC said there was no one who abandoned the polling centers for non-electoral activities during the entire period the security personnel have been manning the centers, a development he said was an achievement.

“The situation remained quiet and normal. We did not have major security challenges during distribution of ballot papers, polling and other elections related activities. Let me commend the security personnel for maintaining discipline and working responsibly as our mandate suggests,” he said.

Nyirenda said it was not easy for the district stakeholders to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free and non-violent environment being a border district.

He told the team that police managed to arrest one suspect at Kasinje in Ntcheu Bwanje North constituency who was found enticing voters with money to vote for one particular candidate on the day of polling.

In his remarks, District Commissioner for Ntcheu, Smart Gwedemula commended the district elections supervisory team for their commitment towards ensuring that the election process in the district was conducted in a peaceful manner.

“We have had no serious problems reported. This has been like that because of the dedication and hardworking spirit that we have demonstrated during the process. You have really done a good job together with the security personnel,” said Gwedemula.