Balaka Police Station, in partnership with Central East African Railways (CEAR), has urged scrap metal dealers to desist from operating without valid licences.
The warning was issued on Monday at Khwisa in Sub Traditional Authority Matola, Balaka District, during the election of new community policing members for Group Village Headman Mackenzie.
Speaking at the meeting, Robert Njalammanu, Community Policing Coordinator for Balaka Police Station, announced that authorities have detected illegal scrap metal trading by unlicensed dealers, leading to vandalism of CEAR properties and other criminal activities.
Njalammanu emphasised that the police will rigorously enforce the law and apprehend anyone engaging in such illegal business without proper documentation.
Chimwemwe Billy, Senior Security Analyst for Central East African Railways (CEAR) in Balaka, warned locals to cease vandalising CEAR properties, stating that failure to do so would result in severe consequences.
Ben Yasin, Chairperson of the Scarp Metal Dealers Association, Balaka Chapter, urged the gathering to report anyone found buying and selling scrap metals without valid licences to the Police.
Group Village Headman Mackenzie cautioned the newly elected community policing members to maintain honesty and avoid engaging in corrupt activities during their tenure of office.
