Malawi Parliament Responds to Call for Inquiry into Abduction of British National

The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has been pushing for a public inquiry into the abduction of British national of Indian descent, Muhammed Kasiman. In a letter dated August 22, 2024, CDEDI executive director Sylvestre Namiwa requested the Speaker of Parliament to invoke her powers to commission a joint parliamentary committee to conduct a public inquiry into the matter.

The joint committee, comprising the Trade and Industry committee and the Defense and Security committee, was also asked to summon the current Inspector General (IG) of the Malawi Police Service (MPS), Madam Merlyn Yolamu, to explain whether she is in control of the country’s security system and to provide an explanation on the apparent security breakdown in the country.

In a swift response, Parliament acknowledged receipt of the letter and thanked CDEDI for bringing the matter to their attention. However, Parliament stated that the matter is already being investigated by State Security agencies, including the Malawi Police Service, which have the constitutional mandate to carry out investigations and bring the culprits to book.

Parliament assured that they will continue to monitor the situation and engage with the police at an opportune time to get an update on the progress of investigations. While CDEDI executive director Sylvestre Namiwa appreciated the response from Parliament, he emphasized that he will not relax until the truth is out.

The abduction of Muhammed Kasiman has sparked concerns about the security situation in Malawi, particularly with regards to the recent spate of abductions of business persons of Malawian origin of Asian descent. The incident has also raised questions about the effectiveness of the country’s security agencies in preventing and investigating such crimes.