Independent Complaints Commission (ICC) Commissioner Christopher Tukula has cited financial constraints as the main factor that is hindering progress of the Nsundwe alleged rape case.
The issue pertains to investigations into allegations that some police officers raped women in Msundwe in Lilongwe.
The issue resurfaced when he appeared before members of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Security at Parliament Building in Lilongwe on Thursday.
“This is a special investigation; special in the sense that it requires a specialist investigation. That investigation is about sexual allegations. We needed to beef up our institution’s gender-sensitive investigation teams.
“It is an old investigation. When you are doing an investigation with things that took place earlier, you need a different strategy for the investigation. That [the issue of financial challenges] compounded the challenges that we have at the institution, in terms of investigation capacity as a whole,” Tukula said.
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He said the commission asked government for fresh funding for the investigation.
Tukula said although the request was approved, they never received the funds, such that their plans to investigate the case have been thrown off balance.
He disclosed that they have reached out to their partners, who have committed to assist the commission with resources to use for investigations into the case.
Tukula expressed hope that “once the funding is available”, they would be done with the case within three months.
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In terms of other investigations, Tukula said the commission intends to complete investigating 50 cases during this financial year.
“The commission has received 258 cases, 166 cases are under investigation, 44 [cases] have been completed, 10 [cases] have been withdrawn and 38 are pending investigation,” Tukula said.
But he was quick to point out that, just like with the Nsundwe case, other investigations are being delayed due to funding issues.
Some of the specific cases the commission indicated to have investigated include the shooting incident at Gateway Mall in Lilongwe.
In the incident, a suspect lost his life.
Tukula also said they have investigated the case of the Mulanje District 13-year-old boy whose hands were amputated due to alleged police negligence and the death of suspects while in police custody in Karonga District.
On his part, committee chairperson Salim Bagus said although the commission is underfunded, it is doing a commendable job of receiving and investigating complaints concerning the police.
“I commend the Independent Complaints Commission for the progress it is making in providing civil oversight over police in the country,” Bagus said.
ICC was established under Section 128 of Malawi Police Act of 2010 to provide civilian oversight to law enforcement.
