Chirimba residents, police clash over suspects
Armed with stones and other missiles, residents of Chirimba in Blantyre yesterday stormed Kabula Police Unit to compel law enforcers to release two suspected robbers and let the community administer mob justice on the criminals.
However, their wish could not be granted as the police intercepted them just in time after being tipped of the impending chaos by well-wishers.
This is the second incident in less than three months following another police-residents clash in October last year.
Kabula Police Unit officer-in-charge (OC), Yohane Chakwiya, confirmed ordering officers to disperse the charged residents.
“They [residents] were a mixture of children and parents. They were fully armed to cause chaos. But we managed to disperse them after firing tear gas at them,” said Chakwiya.
Sources said there was an exchange of missiles between the police and residents. Two people were reported to have been injured in the process.
However, the OC could not confirm this in an interview.
Late October, the residents who were baying for the head of a 16-year-old boy suspected of shooting to death a businessperson, mobilised themselves against law enforcers and burnt down Chirimba Police Unit, saying the police were not serving their interests.
I commend the people in Chirimba. Malawians are tired of insecurity in the country. Imagine if the whole state president JB is living in fear then who can defend the roles of the police. May be only Lutepo for receiving a red carpet treatment from our police despite him being on Interpol wanted list.
So Malawians go ahead smash the stupid police stations. They are not protecting us. If even the President is living in fear then who is our police protecting.
A mayi JB ndiliti lija IG mumapupatsa ulemuli. Lero bwa mupatseninso wina
What do you expect the residents to do if the police are failling to do there job? Let them fight against the police
Malawi deserves better than this. It is important to be a nation with a rule of law. Justice should be carried out after a person is tried before their peers. No one will be truly free until it is a nation of laws.