Police officers that upgraded their education demand promotions

Some police officers that upgraded their education within the police system have threatened to take their Inspector General (IG) to court for what they call violation of Malawi Public Service Management Policy that guides automatic promotion after upgrading.

In a letter, dated May 14, to acting IG Duncan Mwapasa, the lower-ranking officers allege that the Malawi Police Service (MPS) is overlooking the promotion of cops who upgraded while working.

The officers have based their argument on the Malawi Public Service Management Policy 2018 to 2022 which seeks to promote meritorious appointments, promotions and deployment of officers to ensure that right people are placed in the right positions.

They have warned that if they do not hear from Mwapasa in five days of service of the letter, they will commence legal proceedings against him.

The officers claim that the police system is only interested in recruiting officers who are already graduates but is reluctant to promote those who are upgrading while already in the system.

“The serving junior-ranking police graduates are very much concerned that the Malawi Police Service is not motivating them after graduating but rather demotivating them by failing to change their grades and conferring them with their deserved promotions,” reads the letter in part.

But National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera urged the aggrieved officers to follow proper channels of raising their concerns.

“Every police officer knows the right channel they need to use whenever they have any grievances, so those officers should use those channels. They will be assisted,” Kadadzera said.

He could not be drawn to say what these channels are and how the security institution is handling the matter raised by the junior officers.