Inspector General (IG) of Police George Kainja has expressed disappointment with the attacks on traffic police officers by motorists and civilians.

His reaction follows a video clip that went viral on Sunday of two traffic officers from Blantyre Police Station being pushed from a minibus they impounded in Blantyre central business district.

Kainja, in an interview yesterday, said enforcement of drink and drive law is one of the major issues creating animosity between police and motorists as well as the public.

Kainja: I am not happy about it

He said police do not make laws and traffic officers are only placed on roads to enforce the law.

Said Kainja: “As an Inspector General, I am not happy about it [attacks]. As Malawi Police Service, we are not happy about it because basically when we are on the road, we would want to make sure that people that are driving on the roads are complying with laws we have in Malawi.

“Therefore, people should understand our role as police officers.”

The IG said they are experiencing a lot of accidents due to non-compliance with traffic rules and regulations.

“Therefore, whenever we place officers, our expectation is that motorists will cooperate with our officers,” said Kainja.

He said his office has reports that some traffic officers have poor attitudes towards motorists and vice-versa.

Following the reports, the IG called for a meeting two weeks ago to look at how best they can improve their relationship with motorists.

Last month, a motorist injured three traffic officers on the Masauko Chipembere Highway in Blantyre following misunderstandings.

In February, another motorist fatally hit a female traffic officer in Mangochi and another traffic officer was killed by a motorist in Machinjiri in Blantyre.

Similar incidents happened last year in Phalombe and Bvumbwe in Thyolo where motorists were accused of deliberately hitting traffic officers while on duty.

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