IG warns against lawlessness

Inspector General (IG) of the Malawi Police Service Merlyn Yolamu has warned people against lawlessness.

In her speech at the passing out parade of 1 367 police recruit constables at Police Training School in Limbe on Friday, she said the Malawi Police Service condemns lawlessness in the strongest terms.

Her warning comes at a time the country has witnessed numerous cases of mob justice, a situation that has alsous human rights organisations, including the citizenry.

Yolamu said with such frequent reports, the police will continue enhancing numerous strategies to address the matter.

She said: “Community policing remains an essential strategy, especially now as we see despicable behaviours by many groups of people who resort to mob justice rather than involving the police.

“Let me take an opportunity to warn perpetrators that this behaviour will be punished to the full extent of the law.”

Yolamu said the police are committed to ensuring protection for every citizen.

She said the police are also keen on collaborating with other stakeholders, both State and non-State, in doing away with crime.

The IG’s warning came barely a day after a Catholic nun was abducted in Zomba on Thursday morning by unknown people who assaulted her.

A statement from the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) on Friday said the assailants picked up the nun pretending to be good Samaritans and drove her to an unkown destination.

Part of the statement reads: “The assailants told her they do not subscribe to her faith and identity. They threw her out of the car alongside the Rosary she was wearing.”

The statement said while the matter may be treated as an isolated case, ECM condemns the behaviour.

“We call on and urge religious leaders and all leaders in society to preach peaceful co-existence. We further urge the same leaders to live by their own examples,” further reads the statement.

On March 26 2024, the Centre for Human Rights Education Advice and Assistance (Chreaa) in a statement also condemned lawlessness and asked police to intervene.