Drivers union writes Minister Sendeza over corrupt traffic police officers
Drivers Union of Malawi—an umbrella body of all drivers—wrote Minister of Homeland Security Jean Sendeza, expressing its concern over corrupt practices by traffic police officers who “are oppressing drivers in the country”.
In its letter dated 30th September, 2022 and copied to the Inspector General of Police, the drivers union gave Sendeza 21 days to act on their grievances.
The union warned that if the 21 days elapse without any action, it will mobilize drivers to deliver a petition to the Malawi Police Service to transfer the corrupt officers because “we are well aware of the stations they operate from”.
Secretary General of the Drivers Union of Malawi, Rodwell Bonongwe Kumtanga, who signed the letter, told Nyasa Times on Wednesday that they submitted the letter to Sendeza personally on 6th October.
The letter reads in part: “Traffic police officers especially here in Central Region usually demand money from drivers plying the roads. This money is ordered without any charge and is collected without any general receipt. Unfortunately, this has deprived the efficiency in collection of revenue by the Malawi Government and has also made officers unreasonably rich at the expense of drivers.
It is for this reason that we write to you the Honourable Minister to intervene in the situation. We humbly recommend that you should warn the officers to stay away from these corrupt practices or face the law because corruption is bad and even the State President does not embrace corruption”.
Sendeza’s phone number was constantly out of reach.
According to the letter to Sendeza, the Drivers Union of Malawi claims it is serving a large community of drivers and works to fulfill its mission by improving the social economic status of drivers in the country.
The letter says the aim of the organization is to directly confront the problems affecting the social economic status of drivers in Malawi.
“We work extremely tirelessly to fulfill our mission of serving drivers in Malawi on issues of drivers empowerment and education, good governance, sanitation, HIV/AIDS, job creation, gender and women empowerment, security issues and to promote spiritual issues; henceforth, eliminating hardships experienced by drivers in Malawi”.
Very corrupt very disrespected department
Mr Bonongwe , in my own opinion I feel that you have gone too far by writing directly to the minister. I think what was supposed to be done was to summon the I G first and see if nothing has been done. Secondly look at the drivers we have and kind of driving experience do they have. Amayanba ndi ma driver kupereka ziphuphu chifukwa ambiri amayenda panseu Ali kale ndi milandu. Kuno ku Lilongwe ndikomwe kuli umve wa panseu.