Church calls for end to Police impunity
The Church and Society Programme of the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia has asked for the immediate establishment of the Police Complaints Commission (PCC) as a means to end Malawi Police Service’s impunity and brutality.
According to Church and Society director Moses Mkandawire, the PCC will supervise the professional conduct and performance of the Malawi Police apart from disciplining deviant Cops.
Mkandawire said there are many instances where Police have indiscriminately killed people but nothing in terms of investigations or discipline has ever happened.
“Police killed four villagers in Kafukule, Mzimba district, Fanikiso Phiri at Chancellor College and 19 people during the July 20th anti-government demonstrations in 2011. There is nobody monitoring the conduct of the Malawi Police service which seems to be devoid of Human Rights,” he said.
Mkandawire was reacting to reports alleging that the Police in Mzuzu beat to death a suspect who was in Police custody for a few days.
The deceased, a second year student at the Natural Resource College in Lilongwe, Edison Msiska, 30, of Chabisika village, Traditional Authority Chikulamayembe in Rumphi district, died a few hours on Sunday at Mzuzu Central Hospital after Police had brought him for treatment.
“It’s true they beat him because he had a swollen arm and leg and bruises on his body,” Layifolo Dikishoni, a relative told NyasaTimes on Tuesday.
“Police are supposed to act within the law and they should know that they are not the law themselves. Their mandate is to protect life and not end it,” Mkandawire said.
Police have remained mum on the issue and have refused to talk to the media.
“Mukufuna mundichotsetse ntchito,” Northern Region Police Spokesperson Norrah Chimwala told reporters on Wednesday. She did not elaborate.
Mkandawire said the right to Life is sacred adding that the deceased student could have contributed to the development of this country.
“Why do the Police not use modern interrogation techniques? Because if someone is in their custody he or she is already vulnerable therefore beating is not necessary. As a Human Rights organisation we would want to see all those involved brought to book,” he said.
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