Women lawyers drag Malawi police to court over Msundwe cops-perpetrated sexual violence
Women Lawyers Association (WLA) of Malawi says it is taking legal action against the Malawi Police Service over its officers who allegedly raped women in and around Msundwe area along the Lilongwe-Mchinji Road in October last year.
The association’s president Tadala Chinkwezule says the women lawyers have been compelled to take the legal action because “the police has clearly abdicated its responsibility and constitutional duty”.
In a letter addressed to the acting police Inspector General Duncan Mwapasa, Chinkwezule says the inaction by the police is wrong, illegal and unlawful and deprives the concerned women and girls of their right to access justice.
But police spokesperson James Kadadzera said in an interview the office of the acting Inspector General is yet to receive the letter.
“Until the office receives the letter, we will not comment,” said Kadadzera.
Police say they have launched a criminal investigation into the rape allegations against some of its officers following a Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) report.
The police are yet to make public its own commission of inquiry report prompting Chimkwezule to demand the formation of a police complaints commission to handle all complaints against the police as the law enforcers cannot investigate themselves.
MHRC investigation established that some police officers raped and sexually abused 17 women on October 9 last year at Mpingu and M’bwatalika trading centres around Msundwe in Lilongwe.
In its report, MHRC said it established that police officers raped 13 women, defiled one girl and sexually-assaulted three under-18 girls during their October 8 2019 operation around the area.
Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communications Technology Mark Botomani, dismissed the report from the tax funded rights commission it on the basis that MHRC had no commissioners in place.
However, Ombudsman Martha Chizuma, an MHRC ex-offio commissioner, dismissed the minister’s assertions, arguing that Section 130 of the Constitution mandates her office and the Law Commissioner to operate as commissioners in the absence of a full commission.
The European Union on December 26 also demanded “swift and decisive” reaction from authorities on police officers accused of perpetrating sexual violence in the affected area.
very beautiful lawyer and not ZIMABUMA ZIJA TIMAONA
So you think they were really raped kkkkkk
Why can’t you use your money to buy food for people in need? Somebody died nobody is talking about investing in that
Good job WLA, osati ma cadet ali ku malawi law society
WLA needs to be upgraded to ranks of MLS or above. Your qualifications are worth it. Sizinazi
Thank you so much WLA for your initiative to help the helpless poor msundwe women whose human rights were obviously violated not only by the police but by the DPP led govt as a whole.
The silence from the commander in chief who until recently had not commented let alone condemned the alleged appalling police actions is clear evidence that the govt was happy with how the DPP cadet infested police force conducted their operation at msundwe. Msomba imayamba kuola kumutu, this president has clearly shown that he is not a father of the nation…..if this rape issue had happened in Thyolo APM would have been the first to condemn it but becoz this happened in an MCP stronghold area that is why he was quite for months on the issue….an old senile man full of nepotism.
My only plea to WLA is that we know that you will be funding this case from your own pockets, could I please urge you to create a fund raising Facebook page so that the general public can help you to fund this case?
Every sensible Malawian want to see justice in this case apart from Mulahko wa alomwe obviously…….and that is why even the govt spokesman aka Botomani challenged the the MHRC report instead of the govt being in the fore front to find out what exactly happened at msundwe it was in the forefront trying to suppress the truth.
I have K1 million I would like to pledge towards this case if WLA need monetary help to pursue this case and I know for sure that there are many Malawians who are willing to give their hardly earned money in order to see justice in this case.
As a country we can not allow the DPP cadet police to operate on gondolosi steroids raping our women in opposition areas up and down the country with impunity, it has to stop and it has to stop now.
These women lawyers are very wiser than white and his friend. KUKHALIRA KUBA BASI. TSONO AZANGA NDI INE ANGOKHALA KUMBUYO KUMAWINGIRA NCHENCHE
how about the police killed why cant you fight for the truth about cops death why only fueling the alleged defilement?
Nobody is suggesting that the killing of mr imedi was not a criminal offence …..the problem here is that the DPP cadet police force used the killing of mr imedi as an excuse to rape the msundwe women.
And as result instead of us talking about the killing of an innocent police officer we are now talking about the rape issue becoz this is not only a human rights violation Issue but also a police brutality and mob justice issue.
It is the same police that preaches to all Malawians not to do mob justice to criminals becoz everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. We currently have many ordinary Malawians in prison because of being involved in mob justice, so why should the police be above the law after raping those women …
And what evidence did the police have against those women they raped that they were part of the mob that killed mr imedi? And which law in Malawi says that if a woman is involved in the killing of a police officer they should be raped as a punishment?
It is obvious that our police force is untrained and lacks investigative skills and therefore always resort to torture to extract information from witnesses…….this is why lots of innocent people get killed in police custody and this has to stop
YOU SHUT THAT MOUTH, THESE WOMEN COULD EASILY BE YOUR DAUGHTER, SISTER OR YOUR MOTHER.
Because the police acts fast when its one of their own or opposition! But for the poor they need more help for justice for obvious reasons. For Late Imedi, Dausi Mwapasa has all the resources to fight for him but the poor girls have nothing but evil regime trying to cover their ass from justice.
kkkkk I hope they will do it after completion of the following list: Chasowa, Jaunja, Buleya, etc
a policeman from Salima got killed at Goliati in Thyolo and the were no raping of women there
Men Lawyers can take up the ‘slain police’ case
some people were arrested already for the killed cop and the suspects are facing justice
💯% correct
Please exclude Jane Ansah and Seod White from your Association
Jane and seod are already DDP Cadets. dont waste your times hence are paid with our Taxpayers money.
The names of all police cadets on duty that day are available on social media.
Good women lawyers. Cadet Police will never bear responsibility if people like don”t act this way. Think of Chasowa, Buleya Lule, 145 million etc, police will never act against themselves. This country needs more people like you
I support that and me as a married
Man father of 3 girls, brother to my 2 wonderful Sister and a son to the most beautiful womn, am right behind you women lawyers.
If you do cloud funding for the case , am right behind it.
Bravo to the Learned women.