The Country’s Quasi – religious body, Public Affairs Committee ( PAC) has gone to town on the country’s security agencies, The Malawi Defense Force( MDF ) and Malawi Police Service (MPS) for negligently failing to conduct their noble duty of protecting Citzens during anti- Mtalimanja protests yesterday.
The protestors were hacked, macheted and had their vehicles torched by an unidentified Panga-wielding thugs who in the process, mishandled Human rights activist Sylvester Namiwa and bayoneted a female Police officer.
In a statment co-signed by PAC Chairperson Monsignor Patrick Thawale and Spokesperson Bishop Gilford Matonga, the body says that the incidents threaten the Malawi’s democratic values.
PAC says the act is barbaric and it contravenes the country’s democratic principles.
“Recalling that the Malawi Police service gave assurance to the 6th All – inclusive Stakeholders Conference delegates compounds the contradictory conduct of the enforcement agencies,” says the statement in part.
MDF spokesperson Major General Mlelemba could not be traced for a comment by the time we went to press, but MPS spokesperson Peter Kalaya has been quoted by local media as having said Police are yet to make arrests in relation to the incident.
“We haven’t yet made any arrest but we are investigating the matter. People should not say we neglected the protestors. We fired
teargas to disperse the protestors,” he was quoted.
The development comes amid growing pressure on government as some qouters ask for the ministers of Homeland security Ezekiel Ching’oma and MPS inspector general Merliyn Yolam’s heads.
Malawi Law Society issued a statement yesterday in which it casted doubts on their ability to lead the law enforcing agencies.
The society said it has noted with concern the failure to act by the members at the helm of the two departments and asked President Lazarus Chakwera to fire them if trust on the security agencies is to be restored.
“Consequently, the Society calls upon the state president Lazarus Chakwera to relieve the minister of Homeland security Mr Ezekiel Ching’oma of his duties. The society further requests President Dr Lazarus Chakwera to relieve the inspector General of Malawi Police Marylin Yolam of his duties,” partly, demands the statement.
The attack occurred at the start of demonstrations Namiwa was leading, calling for the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja and Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi.
Moments after the protestors had thronged the vicinity, an unregistered Toyota Fortuner drive directly towards a group of police officers standing between two Malawi Defence Force (MDF) armoured vehicles.
The Panga-wielding men seized Namiwa by his clothes and began roughing him up in full view of both police and MDF personnel.
In a similar event, a female cop was beaten up by the thugs when she tried to control the thugs from torching a vehicle.
