By Jones Gadama
Minister of Homeland Security Peter Mukhitho is being praised for steering Malawi’s security agenda both at home and across the region, after he opened the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Public Security Sub-Committee meeting in Lilongwe on Wednesday.
In his keynote address, Mukhitho called on Southern African nations to unite in confronting modern security threats.
He listed cybercrime, human trafficking, wildlife crime, violent extremism, climate change and pandemics as shared challenges that “no country can overcome in isolation.” His remarks set a collaborative tone for the week-long deliberations, with delegates noting Malawi’s clear push for coordinated action.
Security analysts say Mukhitho’s leadership reflects the broader vision of President Peter Mutharika, who has prioritized a stronger, more responsive security sector.
Since taking office, Mukhitho is credited with bringing real change to the Ministry of Homeland Security through hands-on engagement, inter-agency coordination, and community-centered policing.
That shift is visible on the ground. A few months ago, Mukhitho led a high-level government delegation to the Lower Shire, including senior ministers Mary Navicha, Dr. Ben Phiri, Dr. Shadrick Namalomba and Norman Chisale.
The visit followed reports of missing male private parts that had alarmed communities in Nsanje and Chikwawa.
Officials say the intervention has borne results. Reports of such incidents have stopped, and broader crime statistics in Nsanje have improved markedly.
Nsanje Police Station data for the first half of 2026 show 335 cases recorded between January and June, down from 500 cases in the same period in 2025. That is a 33 percent drop year-on-year. Road traffic accidents also declined from six to four over the same period.
Nsanje Police Officer-in-Charge McLeod Mtunduwatha has attributed the decline to strengthened community policing, support from traditional leaders, and faster justice processes.
District Commissioner Sandram Naluso has described the improved security environment as a key driver of governance and development in the district.
Stakeholders in Nsanje say the minister’s direct engagement signaled that government was listening and acting.
Station Executive Committee Chairperson Mike Dansa noted that while funding and equipment such as reflector jackets, whistles and gumboots remain needed, the morale and visibility of community policing units have improved since the ministerial visit.
The turnaround in Nsanje mirrors the administration’s wider security pledge.
President Mutharika campaigned on enhancing national security and reducing crime, and Mukhitho’s work is being cited as an example of that promise in action.
From border cooperation to district-level outreach, the minister’s approach is described by colleagues as practical, visible, and results-driven.
At the SADC meeting, Mukhitho urged member states to share intelligence, harmonize laws on cybercrime and trafficking, and invest in early warning systems for climate-related insecurity.
Delegates welcomed Malawi’s proposal for joint training and rapid response teams across borders.
With regional collaboration advancing in Lilongwe and crime falling in communities like Nsanje, observers say Mukhitho has positioned the ministry as both proactive abroad and effective at home.
For many in the Lower Shire, the change is already personal: fewer incidents, more police visibility, and a renewed sense of safety.
As SADC deliberations continue, the minister’s message was clear: security is a shared responsibility, and Malawi intends to lead by example.
