Tag Archives: Women Lawyers Association

Malawi

Msundwe women finally get compensated as family of slain police officer Usuman Imedi still waiting for justice

Maneno Chimulala
Msundwe women finally get compensated as family of slain police officer Usuman Imedi still waits for justice

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi government has finally paid millions of Kwacha in compensation to 18 women who were allegedly sexually assaulted by police officers in Lilongwe’s Msundwe, Mbwatalika and Mpingu areas on October 8, 2019.

Police officers allegedly raped 13 women, defiled one girl and sexually assaulted three under-18 girls during an operation which followed the death of police officer Usumani Imedi, who was stoned by angry people in Msundwe area as they protested against the then president Peter Mutharika’s planned political rally in the area.

Women Lawyers Association (WLA) led the victims to court to demand justice and in March this year the High Court sitting in Lilongwe ordered the Malawi Police Service to compensate the women.

According to WLA President Immaculate Maluza, the government has duly paid the money as ordered by the court.

“In or around February 2020, the Women Lawyers Association (WLA) commenced civil proceedings against the Malawi Police Service (MPS), Ministry of Homeland and the Clerk of Parliament, otherwise known as the State and the Inspector General of Police. The Clerk of National Assembly and the Minister of Finance exparte, M.M and 18 others, Judicial Review Cause No.7 OF 2020 (JR Cause No.7).

“The civil matter was concluded successfully and the court ordered that MPS should pay damages to the women and girls of M’bwatalika and Mpingu. On 9th March 2021, Assistant Registrar Chimwaza sitting at the High Court Lilongwe Registry issued a ruling on assessment of damages which determined the amount of compensation payable to each applicant.

“Consequently, WLA would like to inform the public that the Government of Malawi has duly paid compensation to each of the 18 Applicants in JR Cause No.7. The payment marks the conclusion of the civil aspect of the case,” reads the statement in part.

On August 13 last year, High Court Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda ordered the police to compensate the 18 women and arrest 17 law enforcers implicated in the matter.

Nyirenda established that the applicants were victims of sexual violence, ordering that they be compensated for the heinous acts they suffered at the hands of law enforcers.

The judge further blamed the office of the Inspector General (IG) for failing to put in place a credible system of monitoring the conduct of officers.

The IG was therefore ordered to report to the court on steps taken to investigate and arrest the perpetrators of sexual violence.

Meanwhile, Malawians are also demanding justice for the family of police officer Usuman Imedi who was brutally murdered by Msundwe mob during the protests against the ousted President Peter Mutharika.

Msundwe residents, who are obviously staunch supporters of the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), acted in “uncivilizing” manner during the demonstrations, burning and destroying the property in the process.

Timothy Mtambo, the then Chairperson of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), who led the protests is now dining with the incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera following his appointment as Minister of Civic Education and National Unity.

Other HRDC officials like Macdonald Sembereka and Billy Mayaya have also been rewarded with positions in embassies while businessmen who lost property during the violent demonstrations are still languishing in poverty.

Law and order, Malawi, Top News

Malawi VP Chilima for stiffer punishment on rapists

Maravi Post Reporter
Chilima

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima has appealed to women in the country to speak with one voice on matters affecting them as opposed to pulling each other or succumbing to the divide and rule traps set on them.

Chilima was speaking in Lilongwe Saturday, December 5, 2020 when he attended an inaugural networking meeting for the Women Lawyers Association held under the theme; Women Lawyers in the evolving legal landscape.

“Form a block and speak with one voice. Do not be the first pull fellow women. Do not succumb to the divide and rule traps that are meant to divide you. Always speak with one voice on issues affecting you,” said Chilima.

Specifically, commenting on the rising cases of rape and other gender based violence, Chilima urged the association to advance calls to have laws that spell out stiffer punishment for rapists.

“A strong legislation with stiff punishment for rapists is what we need if this nonsense has to stop. We must all work towards that direction,” he said.

Earlier, the Vice President declared his support for the association and described WLA as a the beginning of a new era for women lawyers in the country.

“A new era in which people realise that equality, equal justice and equality of opportunity are complex ideas, difficult to implement but achievable through sustained efforts of those committed like it is the case with the women lawyers.

VP Chilima and wife Mary posing photo with women lawyers

On a lighter note, the Vice President the only time he has been closest to being a lawyer was when he stood in the witness box for days during the election nullification case.

To that effect, Chilima also paid tribute to the women lawyers for the critical role they played to the case as friends of the court as well as other cases.

“Topping the list is the Constitutional Electoral Case, then we have the Judicial Independence Case, the COVID 19 (Lockdown) case, and the Msundwe case pertaining to 18 women and girls where the court found that their rights were violated,” he said.

Chilima assured the women lawyers and other human rights defenders the Tonse Alliance administration will remain steadfast in ensuring that they are protected in the course of doing their work.

The Women Lawyers Association was formed to advance the rights of women and children in Malawi.