Nurturing danger within our midst

by Watipaso Mzungu Jnr


Malawi has Lilongwe as its capital city. It is a capital city in the sense that it is where all government operations take place. This is a city where all government ministries and departments are headquartered.

Blantyre is another major city in our landlocked country. Knowledgeable people have described and defined it as a commercial city. I don’t really know the definition of Mzuzu, but other people have called it the capital city of the northern region. Whatever that means I am yet to know.

My interest, though, is in Lilongwe; our capital city. It seems besides being the government’s administrative centre; the city is also the headquarters of all sorts of criminals. Stunning revelations made recently by chiefs and residents of the city have shown that all administrative operations of the criminals take place here side by side with government’s.

Senior Chief Jubeki of Area 24 in the city told the reporter in an interview that his area is just one of the areas that harbour notorious criminals, especially armed robbers. The chief, who was speaking on behalf of all Chiefs in the city, said it was no secret that Areas 23, 24, 36, 47 and 49 among others are keeping hordes of criminals. But the question could be: Why doesn’t he, having all knowledge that he is living with danger in their midst, report to police?

“We have reported this issue to police several times, but each time we do that all we get are disappointments.”

Why disappointments? The chief did not mince words. He told the gathering police do not help them. Jubeki said he suspected some policemen are friends to armed robbers.

“We are tired of reporting to police because we don’t get the assistance we need. There is no reason to report to police anymore about these heartless men. Police have no power on them (armed robbers). They can make arrests today, tomorrow you find them (criminals) on the streets again terrorising the lives of the same people who reported them to police,” revealed the chief.

Jubeki also cited a number of cases of murder in his area but police did not do anything to help them.

“A certain woman was killed by a businessman near Ngwenya market. That businessman was arrested, but within a short period of time we found he was back in our midst. Is it money that is saving these criminals from facing the law?” he asked.

A certain resident of Gaga in Area 24, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that some policemen are culprits of armed robberies. She said some law-breakers stage the robberies alongside law-enforcers.

“I have seen some policemen drinking Kachasu here in our location (24’s Gaga location). After their drinking, they go about breaking people’s houses,” she alleged.

But how did she know they breakers were in company of police?

“Many robbers use police uniform and riffles. Where can you find these weapons apart from police?” questioned the lady who revealed she was once a victim of the same.

The lady echoed the fears of the chief that some criminals are working with the blessing of some policemen because of how their cases are handled once arrested and detained.

“Such robbers do not know the doors of the courts despite the fact that they have been arrested several times,” she said.

Deputy Executive Director of CARDDENU Francis Antonio concurred with the chief in an exclusive interview with the reporter that Lilongwe is keeping a lot of hardcore criminals compared to other cities and districts of the country. Antonio said that this the reason his organization decided to launch of Gun Free Zone Campaign to stop proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the city to sensitise residents on the need to report all criminals to police.

He said the major objective of CARDDENU was to enhance and add value to consolidation of democracy and ensure that citizens participate in the development of the country so that the economic growth is meaningful and benefit people themselves.

“CARDDENU is a rights organisation and it belongs to Human Rights Defenders Forum—Malawi Chapter. As such right to life is one such important right if the country would want very able people to meaningfully and productively participate in socio-economic development. Life must be protected,” he emphasised.

Antonio said since Malawians cherish freedom existence of small arms and firearms become an impediment.

“As such CARDDENU in partnership CHRR took an initiative to advocate for Free Zone on Small Arms/ Firearms in this country, Lilongwe in particular because it is the most affected district at the moment,” explained deputy CARDDENU director.

Antonio said the two organisations decided to involve chiefs in the campaign because criminals live in the jurisdiction of these traditional leaders.

Executive Director for CHRR Undule Mwakasungula said the fight against Small Arms and Dangerous Weapons would be rendered useless if courts hand down lenient penalties on culprits. Mwakasungula noted that stiffer penalties would help reduce criminal acts as the sentences would scare potential criminals. He also noted that minimal police workforce in the country has caused undesired tension among Malawians.

“We are mindful of lack of enough police workforce, hence the need to involve chiefs and lay people in the fight. Everybody should take responsibility because we cannot have police at all times,” he said.

The rights activist also asked the government to consider conducting a research to determine the impact of firearms in the country besides revisiting Firearms Act, which he said is outdated.

Senior Superintendent Lovemore Mwabumba from National Police Headquarters admitted in an interview that sometimes suspects have been released before cases are finished. He, however, defended that police only give bail to suspects depending on the nature of the crime.

Mwabumba encouraged the people to report again and again to police even if sometimes they get (people) disappointments.

“People should not lose hope. They should report again and again. If they see that we are not helping them, they can go to one of these rights organisations. Certainly, they will receive the needed assistance,” he said.

The law-enforcer could not clear the mist surrounding the relationship between hardcore law-breakers and some policemen. He could not deny nor confirm the existence of such friendships.

“If that happens, then it is shameful an unfortunate. Police are not supposed to be friends to criminals. And if you know one policeman/woman who is a friend to a criminal, please report them,” he asked.