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Malawi Police Officers Under Probe for Sexually Harassing Female Protesters

Lameck Masina

   BLANTYRE, MALAWI - The Malawi Police Service is investigating its
   officers over allegations of sexual offenses against female protesters
   during recent post-election demonstrations in the capital, Lilongwe.
   The inquiry comes after rights campaigners say they have evidence of
   sexual harassment, rape and torture of women during the rallies, which
   often turned violent.
   The protests began when demonstrators at Msundwe Trading Centre blocked
   ruling party supporters from attending a political rally President
   Peter Mutharika addressed.
   Female protesters say police humiliated them in front of their
   children.
   One alleged victim who requested to remain anonymous said, "The police
   beat us up severely that we were unable to walk. But when we regained
   strength and walked away, they followed us into our homes where they
   tore off our clothes and underwear and start touching [us] everywhere."
   Women's rights group NGO-Gender Coordinating Network said in a
   statement that it has recorded evidence from several victims including
   three girls who said police raped them in their homes.
   On Friday, the women's rights campaigners, including the Women Lawyers
   Association of Malawi and the Women's legal Resource Centre, held
   street protests in the capital, Lilongwe, demanding thorough
   investigations in the matter and the immediate arrest of police
   officers involved.

   But James Kadadzera, the spokesperson for the Malawi Police Service,
   says it is too early to start arresting anyone.
   "There is an inquiry team in place to find out if indeed these
   allegations leveled against the police are true. So, if the report says
   the allegations are true, and then it will come up with suspects, so
   those suspects will now be investigated," he said.

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