The Malawi Police are warning the public that, torching of police formations by angry residents is an act that defeats the justice system of any country.
The Malawi police are stressing that a mere arrest does not mean the person is guilty. Only a Malawi court determines guilty or innocence not the Police. When a suspect of any case is arrested, he or she is deemed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court. In some countries, an arrested person is deemed guilty until proven innocent by a court.
In Malawian scenario, any person who has gone against the law whether he was found red handed committing a crime, he still remains a suspect. The offence that has been committed is thoroughly investigated and the suspect is brought before the court of law.
Prosecution has the duty to prove the offence beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law before the magistrate or a judge to secure conviction. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the court to convict and subsequently sentence the suspect.
It is therefore against these brief facts that torching of police formations (stations) by angry residents over various issues, remains a non-justice system, thereby deeming torching as taking the law in people’s hands.
In Malawi, within three years, Kasiya, Nsundwe, Mitundu, Nsungwi, Chisapo, Chilomoni and Area 23 police formations have been torched by angry residents due to several reasons and this has affected the security system in Malawi.
The Police stress that these actions make their jobs more difficult and in the long run the citizens suffer.
