Justice has taken its course as the Government has finally paid compensation to 18 women of M’bwatalika and Mpingu in Lilongwe who were allegedly sexually assaulted by police officers on October 8, 2019.
Women Lawyers Association president, Immaculate Maluza, has confirmed the development saying the payment which is in millions of Kwacha marks the conclusion of the civil aspect of the case.
The development however comes after the High Court Assistant Registrar, Madalitso Chimwaza’s ruling in May this year which he awarded the women compensation ranging from K4 million to K10 million each.
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 case followed the conduct of about 17 police officers who allegedly raped 13 women, defiled one girl, and sexually assaulted three under-18 girls during an operation on October 8 2019 at M’bwatalika, Mpingu, and Msundwe locations in Lilongwe.
The operation on October 8 2019 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.
