The Head of the Traffic Police in the Malawi Police Service has urged all traffic police officers to stop confiscating driving licences with immediate effect.

Deputy Commissioner of Police responsible for Road Traffic Services, Dorothy Kawale, told MBC that following the interface meeting with the new Minister of Homeland Security, Ken Zikhale Ng’oma, they agreed to stop confiscating driving licences as they are valuable documents that need to be protected by the owners.

“I urge all traffic police officers to stop confiscating driving licences and opt for detaining the vehicle used in committing the offence,” Kawale said.

In his remarks, Zikhale Ng’oma said among other things they agreed with the police to make sure they deal with the tendency of driving while drunk. He said by 2028 no death should occur on the roads of Malawi due to drunkness.

He also emphasized the need for the police to stop confiscating licences as it is a recipe for corruption.

Zikhale Ng’oma is meeting various heads of departments under his ministry as one way of familiarising himself with its operations.

Meanwhile, police are expected to issue a statement through their public relations office on the development.