The Independent Complaints Commission (ICC), an autonomous government watchdog, has exposed serious lapses in security planning and execution during last month’s demonstration led by prominent human rights activist Sylvester Namiwa in Lilongwe.
Namiwa, who was leading a peaceful protest, was assaulted by unidentified individuals despite the visible presence of law enforcement officers at the scene. The incident sparked outrage and raised critical questions about the state of public security and the professionalism of the country’s security agencies.
Addressing the media, ICC Executive Director Christopher Tukula said the commission’s investigation uncovered a string of failures by police and other security stakeholders. According to Tukula, a crucial security briefing held at the Lilongwe District Commissioner’s office prior to the protest failed to thoroughly assess or prepare for the risk of violence, even though warning signs were evident.
“The meeting between police officers and Namiwa’s security team lacked a proper risk assessment. There were clear indicators of possible disturbances, but these were either ignored or not seriously considered,” Tukula said.
The report also criticizes the Malawi Police Service for failing to conduct adequate undercover intelligence operations ahead of the protest. Even the limited intelligence that was gathered was not shared with other key security institutions, including the Malawi Defence Force (MDF). This, the ICC noted, led to a breakdown in coordination between the two forces, severely compromising the security response.
Tukula confirmed that the commission has compiled and submitted a comprehensive report to the appropriate government bodies. The report includes the names of specific police officers suspected of negligence on the day of the incident.
“The Inspector General of Police has been advised to take swift disciplinary and criminal action against any officers found culpable. If this does not happen, we will escalate the matter to the Parliamentary Committee on Security,” he warned.
The ICC’s findings have reignited public debate on the effectiveness of Malawi’s law enforcement institutions and their capacity to protect citizens during public events. Civil society groups and human rights organizations are now demanding transparency in the handling of the case and full accountability for the security failures that endangered Namiwa and his fellow demonstrators.
