Mob justice is not justice
I want to delve into something which is gradually turning our country into a state of lawlessness, mob justice. I have watched and read how oftentimes suspected criminals are bruised and tortured to death by an irate mob that feels the suspected criminal deserves the harshest punishment.
The irritated mob takes the law into its own hands to deal with suspected criminals and usually ends with brutalities and loss of lives. The mob takes it upon itself to illegally dispense justice without giving the suspect the right to defend themselves. Suspected criminals are frequently spanked to death; stripped naked and lynched with stones, till suspects die and occasionally setting them ablaze as has been the trend in many parts of the country.
Apart from lives being lost, there are times when various properties have been damaged or desstroyed by an angry mob which feels it has the right to administer justice.
One prominent and more recent incident that comes to mind is what happened at Simama Hotel in Lilongwe where an angry mob smashed window panes for the hotel and damaged a vehicle at parked at the hotel. Apparently, the mob was angry that a girl had gone missing in the hotel-we all know now that this is not true according to what the police have found out.
I want to believe that those who engage in mob justice are ignorant of the law and the fundamental human rights. One does not need to be a legal expert to know that a person is deemed innocent until he/she is proven guilty and that everyone has a right to defend themselves in a court of law.
I am in no way saying people should steal, kill and be let scot free, no. All I am saying is that we should let institutions and public bodies entrusted with the task of dispensing justice to perform it accordingly.
Oftentimes people argue that they take the law into their own hands because they feel short changed by the justice delivery system in the country and some say they can’t trust the police because they are corrupt.
There are instances where probably the public feels that a suspected criminal should have at least served more time in jail, but that criminal is seen the following day roaming the very same streets he terrorized. Yes, I do agree that the justice system leaves a lot to be desired and so too is the police but none of this justifies taking the law into our own hands. We live in a democratic country founded and established on the rule of law and the principles of human dignity and the advancement of human rights and freedoms.
As citizens, we can help these institutions by giving them tips on suspicious acts of some members of our community and if at all we manage to apprehend a robber or a murderer, let’s hand them to these legally mandated institutions to administer justice on our behalf.
Yes they say the wheels of justice grind slowly, but they surely do get to their destination. Remember, two wrongs don’t make a right. n
