Police institute second Msundwe rapes inquiry
Acting police Inspector General Duncan Mwapasa says the police have instituted a second probe into the Msundwe rapes following the release of a Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) report on the matter.
A report releasedby MHRC in Decemmber 2019 found that police raped at least eight women and sexually violated several others, including girls, during October’s post-election unrest.
Mwapasa said following the release of the MHRC report, he met 17 women who were allegedly raped and assaulted by the police officers.
“They were brought to my office by women lawyers. We even took their caution statements,” he said.
Mwapasa has however said he would not shield any police officer implicated in the matter.
He said the first report by the police on the Msundwe rapes is over and would be released in two weeks’ time.
The alleged sexual assaults were outlined in a 62-page report released by Malawi’s Ombudsman Martha Chizuma and Law Commissioner Rosemary Kanyuka.
The MHRC report says the police assaults occurred in the homes of victims and were carried out in revenge for the stoning death of a fellow police officer.
“We found out that a total of 17 women were sexually violated,” Chizuma said. “Five of them were under 18. One of the five girls was actually defiled. Eight women were raped. The rest, police found them doing their menses so were just violently beaten.”
But observers note a lack of evidence, as victims failed to obtain medical exams after the alleged assaults and were unable to identify police officers, whose faces were covered.
Meanwhile, no officers have yet been suspended or detained, and government authorities are questioning the validity of the report.
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Why going round and round on such a straight forward issue? The report is out already, why another investigation?
They tippex the first report and they now want it match Chizuma’so report, they need two weeks to do that. Tippex ndi mbola! Martha ali ndi original tally sheets a police ali ndi jublicate koma akuopa kubweletsa poyera.
Cadet uyu palibe chomwe angachite koma tiyeni tipemphele molimbika kuti tsiku lina mudima umenewu wuzachoke tizawone kuwala azalidziwe dziko ma cadet amenewa.
ACHIMWENE A MWAPASA, GROW UP , SHOW MATURITY AND PROFESSIONALISM ON THE NSUNDWE POLICE SAGA, BORROW A LEAF FROM MARTHA CHAZUMA, DONT TAKE THE MPS AS IF IT IS ANOTHER NDATA PROPERTY, THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CASE WILL NOT BE BURRIED UNDERNEATH THE CARPET LIKE THE CHASOWA CASE, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN WITHIN THE COMING DAYS.THE MADISE, THE IVY KAMANGA OF THIS WORLD SHOWED KALEKENI KAPHALE THAT THEY ARE IN UNCOMPROMISING MOOD.
Change is imminent. With change justice follows.
Hallmarks of a police force of a failed state…….instituting a second probe before the report of the fist probe is even released.
Why the British well trained Malawi police need to conduct a second probe? Well your guess is as good as mine, the first probe was a sham, a coverup work but unfortunately for the police, the MHRC report has caught them with their pants down…….
The msundwe women and the Malawi nation are highly indebted to one Martha Chizuma and Mary Kanyuka….thank you girls, you have done your country a great service.
How long did it take to arrest suspects in Msundwe?