Govt reverses ‘shoot to kill’ directive

The Malawi government has reversed the shoot to kill directive which late President Bingu wa Mutharika imposed on the police service.

Home Affairs Minister Mr Uladi Mussa told the media that capital hill has reconsidered and abandoned the order that Malawi Police execute killing of criminal suspects through shooting.

“That policy is no more. We don’t want our police to shoot anybody; they should do anything possible to catch them for trial and not immediately giving the judgment of killing,” said Mussa.

The Mutharika directive drew criticism from both local and international human rights activists.

According to Mussa, government is currently restoring the lost integrity of the Malawi Police.

“We want our police to respect human rights and that they should regard Malawians as human beings. The police are there to protect Malawians and not to kill them,” he said.

During the July 20 demonstration last year, police shot and killed 20 people, a development which questioned the law enforcers’ respect for the value of life and professionalism in the use of live fire arms.

Meanwhile, a commission of inquiry formed to probe the 7/20 incident has presented its findings to President Joyce Banda.