Corruption, Violence mars national ID registration exercise, police officer beaten in Mbayani

National Identification registration exercise being carried out across the country by the National Registration Bureau (NRB) ended prematurely at Manyowe clinic in Blantyre following violence that erupted at the centre on Thursday, faceofmalawi can reveal.

Faceofmalawi understand that the exercise at the centre started smoothly in the morning and there were long queues

But things went sour at around 11am after it was revealed that the police officer and Group Village Headman stationed at the center were receiving cash amounting to MK500 from citizens for them to be registered.

The move did not please some citizens who ganged up forced themselves into the room and the whole exercise was suspended.

In a related development, a police officer stationed at Mbayani Primary School centre was beaten up by angry residents during a scramble for registrations forms.

The violence also led to the suspension of the registration exercise.

Meanwhile NRB officials are yet to comment on the matter.