By Solister Mogha

Zomba, March 9, Mana:  Member of Parliament (MP) for Zomba Thondwe Constituency, Rosemary Gadama has described the newly constructed Nasawa Police Unit as a big relief to people of Chimwalira and surrounding areas.

Speaking to Malawi News Agency on Friday, Gadama said for years, the police unit has been operating from a dilapidated structure that even contributed to escape of suspects.

She said no matter how many arrests the police made, suspects were always escaping through the worn-out roof.

“Our prayers have been answered and we are more than happy for this development. With this new structure, criminal cases have dropped because people know there is a well-constructed cell that they cannot escape from,” she said.

Apart from improving security in the area, Gadama said the new police has provided a better working conditions for officers.

“A place of work also matters and the modern police unit is a big motivation to our police officers,” she said.

She then hailed government for providing the financial support through the Government to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project, and ensuring that people of Nasawa have a new police unit.

Frezzer Josam, Officer in charge for Nasawa Police Unit said the new police has helped a lot in curbing criminal activities in the area.

Josam said from July 2023, the police unit has managed to arrest 15 criminals who are serving various sentences at Zomba maximum prison.

“It is our hope and expectation that structures such as these would continue be constructed across the country,” he said.

Village Headman Kamwendo described the new police unit a big relief to officers who kept on hunting for suspects who had already been arrested but escaped through the roof.

Director of Planning and Development for Zomba District Council, Precious Kamtsitsi said the council has several projects that it intends to implement using GESD funds.

Apart from police units, Kamtsitsi said the council will be constructing new school blocks, girl’s hostels as well as health centers.

The Director commended government for securing the GESD funds which he said is improving district’s development agenda.

The K59 million Nasawa Police Unit whose construction started in 2022 was officially handed over by the Zomba district council on July 4, 2023.