By George Singini

Copyright mwnation

Inspector General (IG) of Police Merlyne Yolamu has assured of peace during election time, saying the police and other security agencies stand ready to confront any challenge that may threaten the peace and stability.

The country’s top cop said this at National Police Headquarters in Area 30, Lilongwe yesterday when she presided over the launch of Joint Electoral Security Operations Centres that the police, Malawi Defence Force, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services and Malawi Prison Services have formed to enhance electoral security.

She said the centres, located at police headquarters in all six policing regions and some districts deemed to be potential hotspots, are equipped with advanced communication and monitoring technologies.

Said Yolamu: “These centres symbolise the readiness of security agencies to provide real-time, coordinated and effective responses to any incident nationwide.”

Asked how people will be able to trust the security personnel considering that they failed to act on previous violence incidents, she said the security agencies have been equipped to act quickly.

“General elections are the very foundation of our democratic governance, and it is our solemn duty to ensure they are conducted in a safe and secure environment,” said Yolamu.

In her remarks, United Nations Development Programme resident representative Fenella Frost said the centres will enhance the police and the election security task force’s capacity to monitor and respond to incidents in real time, coordinate resources effectively across all regions, ensure rapid deployment of personnel where needed most, and maintain transparent communication with all stakeholders.

In an interview, governance expert Moses Mkandawire urged the security agencies to act with speed when handling issues that might affect elections.

The road to the elections has been marred with incidents of violence, especially prior to campaign period.