LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) Board Chairperson, Robert Mkwezalamba, has expressed concern over the recent kidnapping incident that occurred in broad daylight at Crossroads in Lilongwe, calling it a serious threat to public safety and national peace.
In an interview with Maravi Post, Mkwezalamba noted that historically, Malawi has been regarded as a gun-violence-free nation.
He emphasized that while police and other law enforcement agencies remain on high alert, their operations largely depend on intelligence and tips from the public.
Mkwezalamba further observed that emerging details suggest that most reported kidnapping cases have occurred within the Asian community, raising concerns that some incidents may involve inside arrangements or business deals gone wrong.
He warned that the continued secrecy surrounding previous kidnapping cases where ransoms were allegedly paid without informing the police or the public has contributed to the persistence of such crimes.
“Failure to report outcomes of these cases creates an environment where criminal activities continue unchecked,” Mkwezalamba said.
“The public deserves transparency, and authorities must be kept informed to prevent recurrence.”
He stressed that, unless officially stated otherwise, Malawi remains a peaceful nation.
However, he urged the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) to work together to thoroughly investigate the latest incident and regularly update the nation to restore public confidence and reassure citizens of their safety.
Mkwezalamba also renewed calls for joint police and MDF operations in identified high-risk areas such as Area 47, Area 43, Area 15, Kaphiri, and other locations where illegal firearms and drug activities are suspected.
“There was a time we called for coordinated security operations to flush out guns and drugs from these areas,It is time those efforts were revived.”he said.
He described the abduction as unacceptable, particularly given that it occurred in daylight and at the heart of the capital city.
“This kind of criminal act at the centre of Lilongwe must be stopped,” concludes Mkwezalamba.
