British envoy decries Malawi police sexual exploitation at Nsundwe
British High Commissioner to Malawi Holly Tett has decried allegations that police raped women and girls in and around Msundwe, Mpingu and M’bwatalika areas on the outskirts of Lilongwe in retaliation to the killing of a cop in the area.
She has described the allegations as serious and disturbing.
“These allegations have a bearing on police/public trust. These reports are disturbing,” said Tett in Blantyre on Wednesday after opening a three-day training on investigations of trafficking in persons for 32 police and immigration officers.
Tett urged the police to work on restoring the lost public trust if it is to perform its duties effectively.
She said allegations of police brutality and clashes between the public and the police such as the ones at Msundwe Township in Lilongwe make it difficult for police to combat crime including trafficking in persons.
The British diplomat has since asked the police to do a thorough investigation on the issue.
“The UK believes that the best way to restore the police/public trust is through a thorough investigation,” said Tett.
A women rights body revealed of the serious allegations of rape of women and girls by the police in retaliation for the killing of Superintendent Usumani Imedi of the Malawi Police Mobile (MPS) Service on October 8, who was deployed to the area to restore peace and calm after violence.
But Youth and Society executive director Charles Kajoloweka argues that the inquiry by Malawi police may lack credibility and impartiality.
“We strongly doubt the credibility and impartiality of the internal investigations instituted by the police. Experience shows that such approaches are merely cover-ups to shield officers from facing the law,” he said.
If nothing is done Tizabwezela. We know Ana anu and Azikazi anu. You can’t manage kuwateteza 24 hrs
What a joke. They acted from instruction from above. They will cover up everything.
If nothing is done Tizabwezela when you don’t even expect it
Nanga mayi seodi white alira liti?
No way should the police be investigating their fellow policemen. The investigation must be carried out by an independent body, otherwise it will simply result in a cover-up.
Malawi Police, full of rapists and criminals. Corrupt even in spirit. Shame
Kodi anthuni simukunena za Police Officer amene adamupha anthu akwa Msundwe bwanji? Ndiye kuti wapolice alibe ufulu okhala ndi moyo koma anthu akwa Nsundwe okha basi? Asiyeni a Police akhuze kaye maliro akamaliza adzatiuza zoona zake. You don’t pass judgement basing on mere speculations. MPS deserves to be heard but not now. It would have made sense if Her Execessiollence the British Commissioner had first condemned the Nsundwe Republic for killing an innocent police officer who was on duty.
Samuel I think you’re not an intelligent person.
she should shut up. these are the guys sponsoring anarchy in the country
I can find nothing elsewhere on the internet about what Holly Tett is claimed in this article to have said, or the circumstances under which she made her statement.
Seodi White do you hear?
The Peter Hitler Mutharika regime has planted its militia in our army and police force to terrorize Malawians. These DPP cadets can be compared to the Interhangwe in Rwanda that committed genocide. You see a DPP cadet you have a right to eliminated these animals. They are not human beings but terrorists that rape, butcher innocent Malawians, petrol bomb opposing voices, stealing elections at a gun point. Yes, the Malawian police force has lost creditability because it has been infiltrated by DPP terrorists. How on earth can you brag of raping a school child? Raping another man’s wife, raping grandmothers,… Read more »
Ma ideas opusa ngati akowa kuti ma Officer in-charge onse nga DPP ndi omwe akubweretsa udani leading to the stoning to death of police officers. Uli ndi umboni wanji galu iwe ndi onse oganiza mopepera ngati iwe to back up your claims? You cannot take ma mistake a anthu ochepa and tarnish image ya organisation yonse ndi onse ali m’menemo. Mbuzi mano kunsi iwe.
History has proved it