Over 30% Malawi police officers are HIV positive : Cops demand sex from prostitutes under arrests

Inspector General of police Lexten Kachama has called for behavioural change in the rank and file of law enforcers following revelations 32 percent of them are HIV positive.

Kachama said this during the launch of a radio program by Theatre for Change NGO aimed at sensitizing police officers on how best to protect themselves from the disease.

“The percentage on our officers with HIV and AIDs is high, this threatens security of the country,” said Kachama, welcoming the program.

Finance director of Theatre for Change, Wiseman Msimuko noted that most police officers get the HIV through reckless.

“They demand sex from prostitutes when they arrest them, the demand sex in return for freedom. They have unproitected sex with the prostitutes,” he said.

His comment comes barely a week after a newly formed sex workers association in Mangochi launched a stinging attack on police officers for forcing the prostitutes have sex with the law enforcers once the sex workers are caught on rogue and vagabond.

A national grouping for sex workers, Sex Workers Alliance also expressed concern over abuse by police officers.

Theatre for Change is launching N’zotheka radio program.