Police angers MHRC over wounded student

Taxpayer-funded Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has raised eyebrows over the decision by Central Region Police to go behind the commission’s back to provide financial and material support to a Form One student police seriously injured at Mbapapi Private Secondary School in Kasungu.

On the night of November 25 2016, law enforcers from Chatoloma Police Unit opened fire on unarmed students who were protesting against the decision by school management to give them cabbage for relish.

One of the bullets landed on a 14-year old student—Humphreys Jere Junior—who sustained a deep wound on the right lumber region.

Following the incident, the victim’s parents sought the intervention of MHRC to investigate the matter and help the boy get fair compensation for the injury.

However, it has transpired that the Central Region Police – led by Commissioner of Police for the Centre Clifford Devson Bandawe – have been paying the boy visits at Kamuzu Central Hospital where he had been admitted to.

Central Region Police public relations officer Nolliettie Chihana confirmed the development in an interview on Thursday.

However, she could not disclose the type of support they were giving to the boy.

The victim’s father – Humphreys Jere – also confirmed to have received some financial and material support from the Central Region Police.

“They brought us drinks, biscuits, juice and K5 000. They also said once the boy is discharged, I should go to his office for discussions,” said Jere Senior.

“But I am yet to go. I don’t know what sort of discussions we are going to have. We have just been discharged now; and, I have not made a decision on when to visit the police,” he added.

However, these revelations have not amused MHRC director of civil and political rights Peter Chisi, who fears this could be a deliberate ploy by the law enforcers to suffocate justice in the matter.

Chisi said as an interested party, the commission would also want to know and see for itself what the “police will advise as the boy is going home to continue his treatment”.

“I am saying this because previously the police were denying that the boy had been shot. Now, we seem to have adequate information on the treatment the boy has gone through.

“It’s confirmed that he has been treated for gunshot wounds. The hospital records show that the boy is being treated for gunshot wounds,” he explained. n